THE  BEAUTIFUL  SPY, 


AN    EXCITING    STORY 


iRMY  AND  HIGH  LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK  IN  1778, 


BY    CHARLES    BUKDKTT, 

AUTHOR    or    "THREE   PER   CENT   A  MONTH,"    "SBCPNP 

"  MARION    DESMOND,"    ETC.,   ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

JOHN  E.  POTTER  AND  COMPANY. 

617  SANSOM  STRBBT. 

V 


Entered,  accoixune  to  Act  of  Ongreu,  In  the  year  1868,  ky 

JOHN     E.    POTTER, 

la  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States.  In  and  for  the  Eaat«n 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


WILLIAM    CURTIS    NOTES,   EIQ., 


IS   RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 

«•  A  1UEK  OF  HIGH  PERSONAL  REGARD  AND  ESTEEM,  AND  IN  QRAT«r0l 
APfRECIATION    OF    PAST     KINDNESS, 

BY   HIB   ATTACHXD   FRIEND, 

THB  AUTBOI. 


790855 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEB  ttm 

INTRODUCTION, ..     lx 

I— «TBNERAL  PUTNAM  AND  AARON  BURR, 15 

n.- MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE, ft 

m.— LOVE  AT  FIRST  SIGHT, M 

IV.— PREPARING  FOR  THE  JOURNtT, 49 

Y.— THE  ROYALISTS  IN  THE  CITY, 69 

VL— THE  ATTACK  AND  ITS  RESULTS, 69 

TIL— THE  ROYALISTS  PLOTTING, 76 

Till— A  NEW  RECRUIT, M 

IX— MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE  AT  HOME, M 

X— AN  OLD  FRIEND, 104 

XL— MARGARET  AND  HER  CONQUESTS, ,....  118 

XIL— THE  BROTHERS'  MEETING, 125 

XIII.— A  SPY  IN  THE  CAMP, 1ST 

HV.— GOVERNOR  TRYON  ON  BOARD  SHIP, 169 

XV.— THE  BROTHERS  IN  COUNCIL, 164 

XVI.— MARGARET  AND  HER  LOVER  AT  HOME, IT* 

XTIL— THE  FIRST  TEMPTATION,  189 

XVIIL— MAJOR  BURR  ENSLAVED 191 

XIX— MARGARET  AND  THE  ROYALIST  CAPTAIN, 193 

XX— A  NEW  CHARACTER  INTRODUCED 811 

XXL— MAJOR  BURR,  AND  CORBIE  THE  TORY, 228 

XXII.— MARGARET  FINDS  A  NEW  LOVER, 286 

XXIIL— MARGARET  RECEIVES  A  PROPOSAL, 944 

XXIV.— SETH  ADAMS  A  PRISONER, 865 

XXV.— THE  TEMPTRESS  CONQUERS, 868 


riii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  '•*"• 

XXVL— A  DINNER  PARTT  AND  A  QUARREL, «T» 

XXVIL— MARGARET  AND  LIZZIE  BRAINARD, 89« 

XXVIH.— CONSEQUENCES  OF  SETB'S  ESCAPE, Wi 

XXIX.-THE  PATRIOT  QIRL, «• 

XXX- THE  PLOT  DISCLOSED, Ml 

XXXL-THE  TEMPTRESS  TRIES  HER  ARTS  AGAIN, 884 

XXXIL— THE  ROYALISTS  IN  DANGER, •*« 

XXXIII.— GENERAL  WASHINGTON  AND  THE  PLOTTERS, 8B* 

XXXIV.— MARGARET  ATTEMPTS  TO  ESCAPE, «« 

XXXV.— AARON  BCRR  FREB  AGAIN, WO 

ZXXVL— CONCLUSION «« 


APPENDIX. 
I. 

TRIAL  OF  HICKET  BEFORE  THE  COURT  MARTIAL, *M 

WARRANT  FOR  THE  EXECUTION  OF  HICKET, 8M 

CERTIFICATES  OF  THE  SERVICES  OF   COL.  AARON  BURR  IN  THH 
AMERICAN  REVOLUTION,  FROM  HIS  FELLOW-SOLDIERS: 

LETTER  FROM  SAMUEL  ROWLAND,  TO  RICHARD  V.  MORRIS,  ESQ., 808 

CERTIFICATE  FROM   THE   RKT.    HBZEKIAH   RlPLRT, 899 

CERTIFICATE  r ROM  MB.  ISAAC  JENNINGS  AND  MX.  A.NDZETT  WAKEHAJI,  400 

LKTTKR  FROM  NATHANIEL  JCDSON  TO  COM.  R.  V.  MOBSIS, 40t 

LETTER  JBOM  COL.  RICHARD  PLATT  TC  COM.  V.  MOBJHB, 408 

LETTER  FROM  ROBERT  HCNTIR,  ESQ.  TO  GABRIEL  FCRMAN,  ESQ., 409 

LETTER  FROM  SAMUEL  YOUNG,  ESQ.  TO  COM.  VALENTINE  MORRIS,  ....  411 
MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE,  GENERAL  PUTNAM,  AND  AARON  BCRR,.  419 

PARAGRAPH  RELATING  TO  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE, 488 

COL.  BURR  DENIES  CLAIMING  PROTECTION  AS  A  BRITISH  SUBJECT,  424 

II. 

LETTERS  OP  COL.  BURR  TO  "KATB," 4M 

LITTER  OF  COL.  BURR  TO  ELIZA, 4ST 

UTTER  FROM  LEONORA  TO  AARON  BURR, 43* 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  May,  1776,  the 
city  of  New  York  was  garrisoned  by  about  thirteen 
thousand  troops,  regulars  and  militia,  under  the 
command  of  Major-General  George  Washington, 
comprising  men  from  every  section  of  the  country 
this  side  of  North  Carolina,  and  as  far  north  as 
New  Hampshire. 

His  head-quarters  were  established  at  what  was 
then  known  as  Richmond  Hill,  and  which  is  more 
fully  described  in  the  succeeding  chapters,  now 
familiar  to  present  residents  as  the  country  seat  of 
Col.  Burr,  and  after  his  purchase  and  occupancy, 
named  Burr's  Hill. 

The  second  in  command  was  that  gallant  and 
tried  old  soldier,  General  Putnam,  whose  feats  in 
the  wolfs  den  have  become  as  household  words 
with  every  schoolboy  in  the  country.  He  had  es- 
tablished his  head -quarters  at  the  house  well  known 
1*  * 


X  ENTRODTJCTIOir. 

as  No.  1  Broadway,  on  the  corner  of  Battery  Place, 
built  many  years  before  by  Major  Kennedy  for 
his  private  residence,  and  in  later  days  familiar  to 
New  Yorkers  as  the  residence  of  two  mayors. 

General  Putnam's  aid  at  this  period  was  Major 
Aaron  Burr,  who  had  sought  the  post  in  preference 
to  a  similar  position"  in  the  military  family  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  where  he  was  confined  ex- 
clusively to  the  duties  of  an  amanuensis,  which  did 
not  suit  his  ardent,  active  military  spirit,  and  Gene- 
ral Putnam  was  glad  to  avail  himself  of  the  services 
of  one  who  had  proved  himself  as  eminent  with  the 
pen,  as  with  the  sword. 

In  the  month  of  May,  General  Washington  was 
summoned  to  Philadelphia  to  attend  upon  Con- 
gress, then  in  session,  and  General  Putnam  was  left 
in  chief  command,  with  instructions  to  fortify  the 
city  at  every  point  to  repel  a  threatened  invasion, 
as  Admiral  Howe,  with  his  fleet,  and  an  army  of 
some  thirty  thousand  regulars  ,and  Hessians,  had 
left  the  waters  of  Virginia  under  the  command  01 
Lord  Howe,  and  it  was  presumed  that  the  next 
point  of  attack  would  be  the  city  of  New  York—- 
which supposition  was  fully  borne  out  by  subse- 
quent events,  as  recorded  in  history. 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  and,  of  course,  during 
the  absence  of  General  Washington,  General  Put- 


nain  was  one  day  the  recipient — through  a  boat  from 
Stateu  Island  (then  occupied  by  the  British),  bearing 
a  flag  of  truce — of  a  letter  from  Major  Moncrieffe  of 
the  British  army,  who  with  his  regiment  was  en- 
camped on  the  island,  in  which  he  set  forth  that  the 
chances  and  hazards  of  war  had  compelled  him  to 
leave  his  only  child,  a  daughter  just  past  fifteen, 
Margaret  Moncrieffe,  alone  and  unprotected  at  the 
house  of  a  widow  lady  near  the  town  of  Elizabeth, 
and  with  entire  strangers ;  and  as  he  could  not 
foresee  what  the  perils  of  war  might  bring  forth  in 
a  day  or  an  hour,  and  as  the  locality  where  she 
resided  might  soon  become  the  field  of  active 
operations,  he  was  loath  to  leave  her  there  if  it 
could  be  possibly  avoided.  He  therefore  implored 
the  general,  as  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman,  to  afford 
to  his  child  that  which  he  could  not — a  shelter  and 
a  home  until  such  time  as  he  could  place  her  in  a 
position  of  greater  security. 

General  Putnam  promptly  replied,  that  the 
request  would  be  cheerfully  granted,  and  that  in 
in  his  own  home,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family,  she 
would  be  at  least  assured  of  hospitable  treat- 
ment. The  young  girl  was  sent  for  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  (the  first  of  June),  and  from  that  time 
remained  an  inmate  of  General  Putnam's  family, 
until  detected  in  communicating  with  the  enemy, 


rf  INTRODUCTION. 

when  she  was  sent  ofl  to  King's  Bridge,  then  Gen, 
Mifflin's  head-quarters. 

Miss  Margaret  Moncrieffe,  the  heroine  of  the 
book,  though  really  only  a  child  in  years,  for  she 
had  just  passed  her  fifteenth  summer,  was,  in  all 
that  belongs  to  woman  of  feeling,  heart  or  passion, 
fully  developed,  and  history  has  recorded  that  a 
most  romantic  attachment  sprang  up  between  her- 
self and  Major  Burr,  the  handsome,  gallant  and 
accomplished  aid — on  her  part  with  all  the  fervor 
of  her  passionate  nature,  on  his,  with  more  caution 
and  prudence  ;  and  that  his  love  for  her  was  not  a 
supreme  and  reigning  passion,  may  be  assumed  from 
the  well  known  circumstance,  that  it  was  he  who 
having  detected  her  in  imparting  secret  informa- 
tion to  Governor  Tryon,  then  on  board  the  flag  ship, 
Duchess  of  Gordon,  lying  opposite  Staten  Island, 
gave  such  information  as  caused  her  removal  to  a 
place  where  she  would  find  other  and  less  danger 
ous  occupation. 

It  was  during  General  Washington's  absence  that 
a  plot  was  concocted  by  Governor  Tryon,  aided  by 
Matthews,  a  well  known  Tory,  then  mayor  of  the 
city,  who  was  residing  at  Flatbush,  to  capture 
General  "Washington,  hoping  thus  to  terminate  the 
war  by  one  bold  blow.  Margaret  Moncrieffe  con- 
tributed materially  to  the  possible  success  of  their 


xiii 

plans,  in  which  the  Tory  residents  of  the  city,  toge- 
ther with  many  Provincials  who  had  "been  bought 
over,  had  joined,  by  conveying  secretly  to  Governor 
Tryon  information  as  to  the  location  and  strength 
of  the  various  fortifications  on  the  island  ;  but  fuller 
details  of  the  plot  will  be  found  elsewhere. 

The  pages  which  follow  are  derived  from  these 
two  incidents — the  mutual  attachment  of  Aaron  Bun 
and  Margaret  Moncrieffe,  and  the  infamous  plot 
of  Tryon  and  Matthews.  Every  name  is  historically 
correct,  save  two  or  three  introduced  to  fill  up  the 
story.  Every  incident  is  historical — the  dress  and 
appearance  of  the  principal  conspirators  are  de- 
scribed as  accurately  as  could  be  derived  from  the 
authorities  consulted,  and  save  the  main  incident, 
that  Aaron  Burr  was  seduced  from  his  allegiance 
to  his  country,  or  his  devotion  to  her  cause,  by 
Margaret  Moncrieffe,  the  author  claims  that  he  has 
woven  a  fiction  founded  entirely  on  facts. 

Without  this  explanation,  he  would  never  present 
it  for  public  praise  or  censure.  With  it,  which  is 
but  simple  justice  to  the  best  abused  and  most 
maligned  man  who  ever  filled  a  high  and  honorable 
station,  the  work  must  abide  the  decision  which  the 
public  may  award. 


MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GBNEBAL  PUTNAM  AND  AABON  BUBB. 

IT  was  a  pleasant  morning  on  the  31st  day  of  May, 
1776 — not  exactly  morning,  for  the  sun  had  passed  the 
meridian  nearly  an  hour — General  Putnam  was  seated 
in  the  apartment  on  the  lower  floor  of  his  head-quar- 
ters, at  No.  1  Broadway,  which  he  had  appropriated  as 
an  office  for  the  transaction  of  all  his  official  business — 
the  reception  of  reports,  the  issuing  of  orders,  and  all 
the  details  which  belong  to  the  position  of  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  troops  which  then  garrisoned  the  city 
of  New  York,  some  thirteen  thousand  in  number. 

He  held  his  position  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  who  had  been  summoned  by  the  Con- 
gress, then  in  session  in  Philadelphia,  to  consult  with  the 
members  of  that  august  body  (alas !  how  sadly  and  woe- 
fully changed),  with  reference  to  the  *nispected  move- 
ments of  the  British  fleet,  under  Admiral  Howe,  which 


18  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

convoyed  transports  containing  an  army  of  some  twenty 
thousand  regulars  and  Hessians,  under  the  command 
of  Lord  Howe,  and  which  had  recently  left  the  waters 
of  Virginia.  It  was  supposed  that  their  next  point  of 
attack  would  be  the  city  of  New  York,  and  orders  had 
been  given  to  fortify  the  island  at  every  accessible 
point. 

General  Putnam  was  seated,  or  rather  lounging  on 
a  hair-covered  mahogany  sofa,  elaborately  carved,  and 
studded  with  brass  nails — then,  no  doubt,  thought  to 
be  a  superb  piece  of  furniture — and  was  holding  in  hia 
hand  an  open  letter  which  he  had  just  perused. 

At  a  large  oval  table  which  stood  in  the  centre  of 
the  room,  and  which  was  covered  with  papers  lying 
about  in  disorder  and  confusion,  was  seated  a  young 
man,  dressed  in  the  blue  and  buff  uniform  of  the  day, 
such  as  was  worn  by  the  regular  troops  (when  they  had 
any  to  wear).  His  sword  lay  on  the  floor  beside  him, 
and  his  chapeau  had  been  placed  on  the  other  side. 
He  could  not  have  been  more  than  twenty  or  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  for  his  countenance  was  almost  boy- 
ish.  His  face  was  oval,  with  a  broad,  expanded  fore- 
head, white  as  snow,  where  it  had  been  covered  by  hia 
hat — his  complexion  pale,  but  not  sallow,  though  some- 
what bronzed  by  exposure— his  nose  was  beautifully 
shaped,  and  of  just  proportion  to  his  face — his  mouth 
closely  cut,  and  evincing  a  spirit  of  determination  and 
perseverance,  fully  borne  out  by  the  history  of  his  after 


GENERAL  PUTNAM  AKD  AARON  BURR.       17 

/cars,  while  his  chin  was  small  and  delicate  as  a  woman's. 
His  eyes  were  of  a  dark  hazel,  so  dark,  no  sign  of  a  pu- 
pil could  be  seen,  and  the  expression  of  them,  when  he 
chose,  was  wonderful — they  could  be  likened  only  to 
those  of  a  snake,  for  their  fascination  was  irresistible. 
But  the  great  charm  lay  in  his  smile,  which  no  one 
could  resist — so  sweet,  so  mild,  so  speaking.  In  figure 
ke  was  about  the  medium  height — his  form  as  perfect 
as  that  of  any  sculptured  model,  and  there  was  a  grace, 
an  ease,  a  quiet  dignity  in  all  his  movements,  which 
spoke  one  born  to  achieve  greatness. 

Such,  in  brief,  was  Major  Aaron  Burr,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  who,  at  that  early  age,  occupied  the  high 
and  honorable  position  of  Aid  to  General  Putnam,  by 
whom  he  was  treated  as  a  son,  and  to  whom  he  gave 
his  unlimited  confidence.  He  was  engaged  in  making 
out  some  orders  previously  dictated  by  the  general, 
when  his  labors  were  interrupted  by  the  latter,  who, 
starting  from  the  sofa,  said,  "  There,  major,  read  that 
— that  is  the  letter  just  brought  by  the  truce-boat  from 
Staten  Island  ;  what  on  earth  can  I  do  with  it  ?" 

Major  Burr,  laying  down  bis  pen,  perused  the  letter, 
and  looking  up  in  the  general's  face,  said  in  his  low, 
soft,  musical  voice,  for  which,  elsewhere  than  on  the 
field  of  battle,  he  was  so  famed,  "  I  see  only  one  course  ; 
Major  Moncriefie  appeals  to  you  as  a  soldier  and  gen- 
t'eman  ;  as  such,  you  can  make  but  one  reply." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  that's  so ;  write,  then,  that  Gen 


18  MAKGAEET   MONCRIEFFE. 

eral  Putnam  will  gladly  accede  to  Major  Moncrioffe's  re. 
quest,  and  will  to-morrow  dispatch  a  squad  of  men  to 
escort  his  daughter  to  the  city,  and  that  in  his  quarters, 
and  with  his  family,  she  will  find  a  home  and  welcome, 
until  the  position  or  circumstances  of  her  father  might 
enable  him  to  reclaim  her." 

The  letter  was  written,  signed,  formally  sealed,  and 
addressed,  and  was  handed  to  the  orderly  with  direc- 
tions to  have  it  sent  out  to  the  British  truce-boat,  then 
lying  off  and  on,  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  shore. 

The  letter  which  had  led  to  this  conversation,  had 
been  brought  on  that  morning  by  a  boat  from  Statea 
Island,  bearing  a  flag  of  truce,  which  was  met  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  the  shore  (for  of  course  an  enemy's 
boat  was  not  allowed  to  come  within  hailing  distance 
of  land),  by  one  from  the  Provincial  general. 

It  was  from  Major  Moricrieffe,  of  the  British  army, 
whose  regiment  was  then  encamped  on  Staten  Island, 
preferring  a  very  singular  request.  The  writer  stated 
that  the  chances  of  war  had  necessitated  a  separation 
from  his  only  child,  Margaret,  a  motherless  daughter, 
who  had  accompanied  him  from  England.  She  was  now 
alone  and  unprotected  at  the  farmhouse  of  one  widow 
Adams,  near  Elizabeth,  and  he  implored  General  Put- 
nam, as  a  soldier,  a  gentleman,  and  a  father,  to  grant 
shelter  and  protection  to  his  child.  She  was,  he  said, 
scarce  past  fifteen,  utterly  inexperienced,  and  required 
that  care  and  attention  which  he  could  not  now  bestow 


GENERAL  PUTNAM  AND  AAROX  BURK.       19 

upon  her ;  and  he  promised,  if  his  request  was  complied 
with,  to  relieve  the  general  from  the  responsibility  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment. 

"  How  am  I  to  get  her  here,  major  ?"  asked  the  gene- 
ral, taking  up  the  letter  of  Major  Moncrieffe.  "  He 
writes  that  she  is  at  the  house  of  one  Mrs.  Adams,  near 
Elizabeth.  Do  you  know  anything  about  the  place  ?" 

"  Everything,  general.  Mr.  Adams,  the  father,  noAV 
dead,  used  to  oversee  my  uncle's  farm  near  Newark, 
and,  since  his  death,  the  widow  moved  with  her 
daughter,  to  the  place  on  which  they  now  reside,  which 
belongs  to  us,  and  which  she  occupies  rent  free  as  long 
as  she  lives.  She  has  a  nephew — a  bold,  dashing  young 
fellow,  who  ran  away  from  home  to  follow  me  through 
the  route  to  Quebec,  and  who  is  now  a  sergeant  in 
McDougall's  regiment.'* 

"  I  wish  he  was  in  a  better  place,"  growled  the  gene- 
ral, "  for  that  regiment  was  notorious  for  its  utter  lack 
of  discipline,  its  general  inefficiency,  and  the  turbulent 
disposition  of  the  men. 

"  "Well,  as  you  know  the  place  and  the  people,  sup- 
pose you  go  over  to-morrow  and  bring  this  young  lady 
hither.  I  wonder  what  she  is  like." 

"  The  letter  says  she  is  a  mere  child,  and  inexperi- 
enced. She  won't  give  you  much  trouble,  I  fancy.  I 
will  take  a  squad  of  picked  men,  and  go  after  her  to- 
morrow, for  I  shall  be  glad  again  to  see  the  good  old 
lady  and  Irer  daughter." 


20  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

"Pretty,  eh?"  said  the  general,  with  a  comical  look, 
to  which  Major  Burr  replied,  laughing, 

"  Oh,  yes,  very  pretty,  general,  and  a  terrible  little 
patriot." 

"  So  much  the  better.  I  wish  we  had  more  men  like 
her.  But  consider  that  arranged.  Now  do  you  go  on 
and  finish  up  those  orders.  I  will  take  a  ride  around 
the  works,  and  see  how  they  advance.  I  want  to  have 
everything  finished  before  General  "Washington's  re- 
turn, which  can't  be  delayed  many  days  longer ;"  and 
seizing  his  chapeau,  he  directed  the  orderly  to  have  his 
horse  brought  to  the  door,  and  rode  off  to  inspect  the 
works,  for  he  never  trusted  to  others  to  do  that  which 
he  could  best  do  himself. 

In  the  evening,  at  the  tea-table,  the  general  informed 
his  wife  and  daughters  of  the  intended  accession  to 
their  family  circle,  to  which,  of  course,  no  opposition 
was  offered  ;  and  Major  Burr  having  made  all  his  prepa- 
rations for  the  morrow's  journey — for  it  was  something 
of  a  journey  in  those  days,  even  to  Elizabeth — retired 
early,  and  left  she  family  to  discuss,  in  anticipation,  the 
possible  merit!  or  demerits  of  the  new  comer. 


CHAPTER  H. 

MARGARET   MONCBIEFFB. 

THIS  town  of  Elizabeth,  in  the  month  of  June,  1770, 
was  very  different  in  its  character  and  population  from 
the  Elizabeth  City  of  the  present  day.  A  few  scatter- 
ing log-huts  embedded  in  woods;  hundreds  of  acres  of 
uncleared  lands,  covered  with  stately  trees,  and  here 
and  there  a  small  farmhouse,  afforded  the  only  evi- 
dences of  the  existence  of  the  town  of  Elizabeth,  as  it 
was  then  called,  whose  limits,  however,  extended  for  a 
circuit  of  many  miles  around. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  township,  and  on  the  side 
nearest  to  the  Staten  Island  shore,  there  stood,  at  the 
time  of  which  I  write,  a  small  farmhouse,  as  it  was  then 
called,  though  at  the  present  time  it  would  scarcely  be 
dignified  with  the  name  of  cottage.  It  was  a  low,  one- 
story  dwelling,  built  of  hewn  stone,  with  a  wing  ex- 
tending  some  thirty  feet,  which  was  formed  of  rough- 
hewn  logs,  and  plastered  with  mud. 

The  farm  on  which  it  was  located,  had  evidently 
been  cultivated  for  a  long  time,  for  the  house  was  sur- 
rounded with  appliances  of  comparative  comfort  and 


22  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

indications  of  civilization  rarely  found  in  that  vicinity 
at  that  period  of  our  country's  history. 

A  large  orchard  of  apple-trees  fronted  the  house, 
and  in  the  rear  it  was  bounded  by  a  forest  of  maple 
and  chestnut,  then,  of  course,  in  full  leaf,  and  which 
contrasted  beautifully  with  the  snow-white  house  ;  for 
the  homestead,  though  built  of  stone,  had  been  white- 
washed, presenting  an  appearance  as  attractive  to  the 
eye  as  it  was  gratifying  to  the  taste. 

It  was,  perhaps,  an  hour  before  noon,  on  one  of  the 
most  sultry  days,  early  in  June  of  the  memorable  year 
1776.  Everything  about  the  dwelling  was  as  quiet  as 
though  it  contained  nothing  human.  There  was 
scarcely  air  enough  stirring  to  ruffle  the  leaves  on  the 
trees,  and  the  sun,  nearly  at  meridian,  poured  down 
his  rays  with  an  intensity  almost  overpowering. 

At  this  hour,  the  quiet  of  the  place  was  disturbed  by 
the  tramping  of  approaching  horsemen,  and,  as  the 
sound  reached  the  house,  one  of  the  inmates  appeared 
at  the  door  of  the  wing,  which  was  appropriated  to 
culinary  purposes. 

"  My  sakes !"  exclaimed  the  party  who,  on  hear- 
ing the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs,  had  approached  the 
door  ;  "  I  wonder  if  it's  more  of  them  marciless  cow- 
boys ?" 

"  I  guess  not,"  was  the  reply  which  came  from  the 
lips  of  a  young  girl,  who,  with  sleeves  rolled  above 
her  elbows,  was  hard  at  work  in  the  suds  of  the  wash- 


MARGARET   MOXCEIEFFE.  23 

»ub  "  Colonel  Malcolm's  men  have  given  them  such 
a  fright  they  won't  be  around  here  soon  again,  I 
guess." 

"  Massy  sakes !  who  on  airth  be  they  ?"  exclaimed 
the  first  speaker,  as  she  gazed  down  the  road  which 
fronted  the  house,  and  pointed  in  the  direction  toward 
which  she  was  looking ;  and  as  she  spoke,  she  shaded 
her  eyes  with  her  hand,  as  if  to  aid  her  vision,  ren- 
dered indistinct  by  age. 

"  Why,  mother,  can't  you  see  ?"  and  the  speaker, 
who  had  left  the  wash-tub  and  joined  her  mother  in 
the  doorway,  peered  out  in  the  direction  whence  the 
sounds  approached.  "  Don't  you  see  they  are  Continen- 
tallers  ?  Some  scouting-party,  I'm  sure  ;  and,  oh  dear 
me!  they've  caught  me  in  a  nice  fix.  Mother,  you  go 
and  get  something  ready  for  them  to  eat ;"  and,  as  she 
spoke,  she  unpinned  her  dress,  which  had  been  tucked 
up  around  her  waist,  and  smoothing  it  down,  turned  to 
go  again  into  the  kitchen,  where  she  had  been  occu- 
pied, and,  pausing  an  instant  in  front  of  a  small  glass 
which  hung  between  the  windows,  smoothed  down  the 
glossy  hair  which  floated  in  luxuriant  masses  over  her 
face  and  neck,  and,  with  a  smile  and  blush  at  her  own 
vanity,  so  natural  to  her  sex,  she  retired  to  an  inner 
room  to  prepare  herself  for  a  reception  of  the  ap- 
proaching visitors. 

"  Why,  Patsy  !"  exclaimed  the  elder  of  the  twain,  as 
her  daughter  left  her  side  ;  but  Patsy  either  did  not  or 


24  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFB. 

would  not  hear  her  mother,  and  she  was  left  alone  to 
receive  those  whose  coming  had  already  been  heralded 
by  the  sound  of  their  horses'  feet. 

The  party  consisted  of  nine  horsemen ;  and  at  the 
head,  mounted  on  a  large,  powerfully-built  and  spirited 
charger,  rode  the  leader — a  young,  beardless  man,  who, 
to  judge  from  his  appearance,  had  scarcely  more  than 
passed  his  teens.  He  was  dressed  in  the  blue  and  buff 
Continental  uniform,  as  were  his  followers  ;  but  there 
was  so  little  •  difference  in  the  attire  of  the  party,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  to  select  the  leader,  but  for  the 
straps  across  his  shoulder,  denoting  that  he  was  entitled 
to  wear  epaulettes,  and  the  air  of  command  which 
seemed  to  sit  upon  him  as  naturally  as  if  born  to  it, 
As  the  party  approached  the  house,  the  old  lady  went 
out  to  the  fence  which  surrounded  it,  and,  with  a  low 
courtesy,  said : 

"  Won't  you  halt,  gentlemen,  and  have  something  to 
eat  after  your  hot  ride  ?" 

The  leader  of  the  party  drew  up  his  horse  at  this 
salutation,  and,  dismounting,  threw  the  reins  to  one  of 
his  companions.  Approaching  the  hostess  with  a 
courtly  bow,  he  said : 

"  This,  I  believe,  is  farmer  Adams'  house  ?" 

"  Of  course  it  is.  Why,  bless  me !"  and  she  peered 
earnestly  into  the  face  of  the  speaker,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  mingled  doubt  and  pleasure ;  "  sure  you  ain't 
little  Burr  ?" 


MARGARET    MOXCRIEFFK.  25 

"  As  sure  as  you  are  Mrs.  Adams,"  replied  the  party 
addressed,  and  he  extended  his  hand,  which  was 
warmly  grasped  by  the  delighted  old  lady,  who,  turn- 
ing toward  the  house,  exclaimed,  at  the  top  of  her 
shrill  voice : 

"Patsy,  come  down  here;  it's  little  Burr.  Why, 
Aaron,  where  did  you  come  from  ?  We  heard  as  you 
was  killed  there  at  Quebec,  and  Patsy  has  been  crying 
ever  so  much  about  you  ;  come  in,  Aaron.  But  what 
on  airth  be  you  doing  with  all  these  men  ?" 

"  1  will  tell  you  when  we  get  inside,  my  good  old 
friend,"  said  Major  Burr,  for  he  it  was.  "  We  have 
had  a  hot  and  dusty  ride,  and  my  men  are  terribly 
hungry  and  thirsty,  too." 

"  I'll  take  care  of  them,  I'll  warrant  you.  Tell  'em 
to  come  in."  And  turning  to  his  men,  he  gave  the 
sign  to  dismount,  which  was  promptly  and  gladly 
obeyed,  for  theirs,  indeed,  had  been  a  hot  and  dusty 
ride,  and  fastening  their  horses  to  the  fence  in  front  of 
ibf*  house,  they  awaited  his  further  orders. 

"  Why  on  airth  don't  you  ask  'em  in,  Aaron  ?"  ex- 
claimed the  old  lady,  whose  ideas  of  hospitality  recog- 
nized no  distinction  in  rank. 

Major  Burr  smiled,  and  turning  to  his  followers, 
beckoned  to  one  of  them,  who  approached,  and  with  a 
military  salute,  stood  awaiting  his  orders. 

"  Keep  one  man  on  guard — take  the  rest  in,  and  our 
kind  landlady  here  will  give  you  something  to  eat  and 
2 


26  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFB. 

drink."  Then  addressing  Mrs.  Adams,  who  had  looked 
•with  wondering  eyes  upon  the  youthful  hero,  he  said, 
"  Come,  where's  Patsy  ?  I  haven't  had  a  kiss  since  1 
left  her,  eighteen  months  ago.  Ah,  Patsy !"  he  ex- 
claimed, a»  the  young  girl  entered  the  room,  smiling 
and  blushing,  "  how  do  you  do  ?"  and  seizing  one 
hand,  he  clasped  her  waist  with  the  other,  and  before 
she  had  time  to  resist,  had  she  felt  so  inclined,  which 
b  exceedingly  doubtful,  the  young  soldier  had  im- 
printed a  hearty  kiss  upon  a  pair  of  as  pretty,  and  rosy 
lips  as  New  Jersey  could  boast  of  at  that  time. 

"  Why,  Aaron,  I  am  ashamed  of  you,"  said  the 
blushing  girl,  struggling  to  release  herself  from  his  em- 
brace, "  before  all  these  men !" 

"  You  shall  take  it  back,  Patsy,  as  soon  as  wo  are 
alone,"  and  he  smiled  wickedly.  "  Let  your  mother 
take  care  of  my  men,  and  do  you  get  something  for 
me ;  I  am  hot,  tired,  and  hungry." 

"  Your  men,  Aaron !"  said  Patsy,  opening  her  large 
blue  eyes  with  a  stare  of  astonishment,  as  she  gazed 
upon  the  youthful  speaker. 

"  Yes,  Patsy,  my  men.  But  come,  what  do  you  sup- 
pose brought  me  here  ?"  and  as  he  spoke,  a  crimson 
blush  illuminated  the  beautiful  face  of  the  young  girl, 
for  his  words  recalled  pleasant  memories. 

Perhaps  she  thought  he  came  wooing,  for  he  had 
often  told  her  how  much  he  loved  her,  and  she,  poor 
fool,  had  believed  him.  She  had  h*>q,rd  of  his  gallant 


MAKQAEET  MONCEIEFFE.  27 

exploits  with  Arnold — had  read,  with  flushed  cheeks 
and  beating  heart,  the  high  commendations  officially 
bestowed  upon  him,  and  as  he  stood  there  before  her, 
bronzed,  weather-worn,  yet  bearing  himself  so  gal- 
lantly, her  heart  beat  high  with  the  hope  which  her 
lips  dare  not  express. 

"  I  am  sure  I  don't  know,  Aaron,"  she  murmured. 
"  I  beg  pardon,"  she  interrupted,  as  she  remembered 
that  he  was  now  Major  Burr,  and  the  leader  of  the 
party. 

"  Xo,  Aaron  always,  and  always  the  same  Aaron,'* 
he  said,  raising  her  hand  to  his  lips,  and  imprinting  a 
kiss  on  it,  at  the  same  time  fastening  upon  her  a  glance 
which  brought  the  crimson  tide  again  to  her  face.  "  T 
have  come  to  relieve  you  of  the  presence  of — let  me 
see,  what  is  her  name,"  and  he  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
letter,  which,  having  opened,  he  glanced  over  hastily. 
"  Margaret  Moncrieffe,"  he  continued,  refolding  the  let- 
ler,  and  replacing  it  in  his  pocket.  "  I  have  come  for 
her  by  order  from  General  Putnam." 

"  Surely  you  are  not  going  to  take  her  pri- 
soner ?" 

"  Oh,  no,"  he  replied,  laughingly  ;  "  we  don't  make 
war  upon,  nor  prisoners  of,  women." 

"  She  isn't  a  woman,  Aaron — she  is  only  a  child. 
But " 

"  Well,  go  on,"  he  said,  seeing  that  she  hesitated. 

"  No  matter ;  judge  for  yourself.    Come,  take  a  seat 


28  MARGARET 

in  the  parlor,  and  I  will  find  something  for  you  to  eat 
and  drink." 

"  But  where  is  Miss  Moncrieffe  ?  I  must  hurry  her 
off,  for  it  is  necessary  I  should  be  in  the  city  to-night." 

"  She  is  somewhere  about — I  suppose  under  the  trees, 
reading.  She  spends  half  her  time  out  of  doors,  read- 
ing, or  firing  at  a  mark,  and  I  can  tell  you,  Aaron,  she 
if  a  desperate  shot." 

"  She  won't  bring  me  down,  Patsy,"  said  the  young 
oiajor,  gallantly,  "  for  your  image  will  be  between  us ;" 
and  again  the  warm  blood  mantled  her  brow  and 
cheeks,  and  her  eyes  fairly  glistened  with  happiness. 
'*  While  you  are  getting  some  refreshments,  I  will  seek 
her  out.  Where  do  you  suppose  she  is  ?" 

"  In  the  small  grove,"  and  she  pointed  to  the  spot 
named,  which  was  distant,  perhaps, ,  two  hundred  feet 
from  the  house. 

Unbuckling  the  heavy  horseman's  sword,  which  had, 
during  this  brief  conversation,  been  dangling  about  his 
heels,  he  laid  it  on  the  table,  and,  with  a  graceful  bow 
and  smile,  left  the  room,  and  strode  off  toward  the 
grove,  which  he  well  knew,  for  with  it  were  associated 
memories  of  a  character  so  pleasant  as  not  to  be  easily 
effaced,  for  i ,  was  in  that  grove  he  had  told  his  boyish 
love-  to  the  blushing,  happy  girl  whom  he  had  just  left, 
and  had  received  an  avowal  of  her  own  in  return. 


CHAPTER  III. 

LOVE    AT    FIRST    SIGHT. 

As  he  approached  the  well  remembered  spot,  h*  ob- 
served the  object  of  his  search,  half  reclining  on  the 
green  sward,  leaning  against  a  tree,  and  deeply  engaged 
in  the  perusal  of  a  book  which  she  held  in  her  hand. 

"  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  he  said,  approaching  the  young 
lady,  who,  pausing  in  the  perusal  of  her  book,  dropped 
it  by  her  side,  and  fixed  upon  the  intruder  a  gaze  of 
the  most  unbounded  astonishment. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  me  you  mean,  for  my  vume  is  Mon- 
crieffe, though  I  don't  know  why  you  call  me  Miss.  Are 
you  looking  for  me  ?" 

"  I  am  ordered  to  seek  Miss  Moncrieffe,  and  convey 
her  to  New  York,"  he  replied,  with  a  graceful  bow  and 
a  military  salute. 

"  Ordered  to  convey  me  to  New  York !"  she  exclaimed, 
throwing  her  book  away;  and  springing  up,  she 
stood  before  him,  with  flushed  cheeks  and  flashing  eyts  ; 
"and  who  has  presumed  to  order  me  to  be  convened 
to  New  York  ?» 

Major  Burr  smiled  with  a  singular  expression,  while 
he  gazed  upon  the  young  Pythoness,  as  she  ftood  gl&r- 


30  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

ing  al  him ;  then  gracefully  removing  his  hat,  he  felt 
in  his  pocket  for  the  letter  under  which  he  was  acting, 
and  while  thus  engaged,  she  continued : 

"  If  you  have  come  to  take  me  a  prisoner,  I  tell  you 
plainly  I  won't  go,  and  you  don't  look  like  " 

"  Young  lady,  don't  give  yourself  any  unnecessary 
alarm,"  said  the  major,  a  little  haughtily,  and  as  he 
spoke,  he  extended  to  her  the  letter  for  which  he  had 
been  searching  in  his  pockets.  "  You  are  at  perfect 
liberty  to  stay  or  go  with  me,  as  you  choose,  but  it 
is  your  father's  wish  " 

"My  father!"  she  exclaimed,  hurriedly  interrupting 
him,. and  grasping  the  letter  which  the  young  officer 
held  toward  her.  "  Is  he  a  prisoner  ?" 

"  He  is  not,  Miss  Moncrieffe.  How  soon  he  may  be, 
the  fate  of  war  can  alone  determine." 

"  Then  I  don't  care  for  anything ;"  and  as  she  spoke, 
she  opened  the  letter  which  the  major  had  handed  to 
her.  A  hasty  glance  showed  her  that  it  was  a  missive 
addressed  to  General  Putnam  by  her  father,  in  which 
he  implored  his  protection  for  his  daughter,  until  her 
father's  circumstances  should  permit  him  to  reclaim  her  ; 
for  as  he  was  at  present  situated,  he  could  afford  her 
neither  shelter  nor  protection,  and  the  spot  where  she 
was  then  located  might  soon  become  the  theatre  of 
active  hostilities. 

u  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir ;  I  did  not  imagine  such  a 
state  of  things.  General  "°utnam  is  very  kind,  and  T 


LOVE   AT   FIRST   SIGHT.  31 

am  truly  grateful  to  him.  I  am  at  your  command, 
sir." 

"  Command  me,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  said  Major  Burr, 
with  a  smile,  and  one  of  those  graceful  bows  which  in 
after  years  made  him  so  irresistible. 

"  Oh,  for  gracious  sakes!"  she  exclaimed,  half  pettish- 
ly, and  she  half  smiled,  half  pouted,  "  don't  call  me 
Miss  Moncrieffe.  My  name  is  Margaret.  Please  to  call 
me  Margaret.  I  am  not  a  young  lady  by  some  years. 
How  old  do  you  think  I  am  ?"  she  inquired  archly, 
bending  upon  him  a  searching  glance,  but  dropping  her 
eyes  as  they  met  the  flashing  orbs  of  the  young  soldier 
fixed  upon  her  with  an  expression  of  intense  admiration. 

She  was  tall — quite  up  to  the  standard  fixed  by  that 
arbiter  elegantiorum,  Lord  Chesterfield — with  a  form 
fully  developed  in  all  the  glory  of  budding  woman- 
hood ;  large,  lustrous  eyes,  a  complexion  so  shaded  be- 
tween blonde  and  brunette,  it  was  impossible  to  decide 
which  predominated ;  hair  black  as  the  raven's  wing, 
and  presenting  an  ensemble,  which  a  painter  or  sculptor 
would  have  been  proud  to  embody  as  his  ideal  of  per- 
fection in  womanhood  and  beauty. 

And  there  she  stood  before  a  young  officer  scarcely 
out  of  his  teens,  awaiting,  as  did  Helen  before  Paris, 
the  judgment  she  had  courted. 

Perhaps  she  was  shocked  at  the  boldness  of  her  own 
question  ;  perhaps  she  was  struck  with  the  gallant 
bearing  of  the  slender,  graceful  youth  who  stood  be- 


ft3  MARGARET   MOSCRIEFFE. 

tore  her ;  perhaps,  a  hundred  things ;  but  certain  it  is, 
the  rich  blood  mantled  her  cheeks,  and  added,  if  pos- 
sible, new  lustre  to  charms  almost  perfect. 

"  You  are  young  enough  to  make  me  wish  you  were 
older,  and  old  enough  to  make  me  wish  that  I  was  old- 
er," was  the  gallant  reply,  and  as  it  was  uttered,  a 
bright  smile  mantled  her  beautiful  face,  and  raising  her 
eyes  to  his  own,  she  gave  him  a  glance  which  sent  the 
hot  blood  coursing  through  his  veins  with  marvellous 
rapidity.  She  had  understood  and  appreciated  the  com- 
pliment so  delicately  conveyed. 

"  Well,  we  won't  talk  about  that,"  she  said,  with  a 
bright  smile,  at  the  same  time  extending  her  hand, 
•which  was  grasped  with  marvellous  alacrity  by  the  gal- 
lant officer.  "  Now,  how  much  time  can  you  give  me 
to  prepare  for  my  journey  ?" 

"  Not  very  much  of  a  journey,  Miss  Moncrieffe." 

"  I  think  your  memory  is  very  treacherous,"  she  in- 
terrupted, with  an  arch  look. 

"  Well,  Miss  Margaret,  then  ;  it  is  only  a  ride  of 
about  sixteen  miles,  and  any  of  our  horses  can  go  that 
distance  in  a  couple  of  hours  ;  but  it  would  be  rather 
hard  riding  for  a  lady." 

"  I'll  wager  my  pistols  against  yours,  that  Selim  will 
do  it  in  less  time  than  that,  and  not  draw  a  long  breath." 

"  Pistols — Selim — I  don't  understand  what  you  are 
talking  abvmt,"  exclaimed  the  major,  really  confounded 
bv  her  words. 


LOVE  AT  FIRST  SIGHT.  33 

"  Why,  don't  you  carry  pistols  ?  I  thought  all  the 
rebel  officers — I  beg  your  pardon,"  she  interrupted, 
seeing  that  the  countenance  of  the  officer  grew  dark  at 
the  word — "  you  must  not  mind  what  I  say — I  am  a 
foolish  girl,  and  even  my  father  says  I  am  not  more 
than  half  witted  ;  I  certainly  did  not  mean  to  offend  or 
insult." 

"  How  about  Selim  ?"  said  the  major,  his  counte. 
nance  again  brightening  as  he  met  the  gaze  of  those 
lustrous  eyes,  at  once  forgetting  the  slur  she  had  cast 
upon  him  and  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 

"  Oh,  he  is  my  pet  horse ;  father  brought  him  from 
England  for  my  use,  and  oh,  he  is  such  a  beauty  !" 

"  I  wonder  if  he  is  as  handsome  as  his  mistress," 
mentally  exclaimed  the  young  officer,  as  he  gazed  upon 
her  glowing  face ;  but  he  did  not  say  so  in  as  many 
words,  though  he  looked  it,  and  Margaret  understood 
his  thoughts,  for  she  blushed  and  smiled  at  his  ex- 
pression. 

"  But  come,  Mr." and  pausing,  she  looked  in- 
quiringly at  him. 

"  I  am  called  Major  Burr  in  New  York.  Here, 
Patsy  calls  me  Aaron." 

"  And  are  you  the  Aaron  Burr  who  " 

"  There,  Miss  Moncrieffe— Margaret,  I  mean,"  said 

the  major,  laughing,  "  that  will  do ;   I  have  not  the 

time  to  receive  or  pay  compliments  now.     I  must  be  in 

New    York  to-night,  and,  if  you   consent  to   accept 

2* 


34  MAKGARET  MOXCEIKFFK. 

General  Putnam's  invitation,  you  must  be  thera 
also." 

"  I  shall  be  ready — let  me  see — thirty  minutes — will 
that  do  ?"  she  said,  after  a  momentary  pause ;  "  a  sol- 
dier's  daughter  is  not  troubled  with  an  excess  of  bag 
gage,  and  what  little  I  have,  can  be  carried  in  my 
valise,  strapped  to  my  saddle." 

"General  Putnam  has  a  pillion  prepared  for  you, 
and" 

"  General  Putnam  did  not  know  Major  Moncrieffe'a 
daughter  or  he  would  not  have  taken  that  trouble,  for 
which,  however,  I  shall  gladly  thank  him.  But  como, 
Major  Burr,  I  am  delaying  you — I  see  you  look  impa- 
tient, and  I  won't  detain  you ;"  so  saying,  she  moved 
toward  the  house,  walking  side  by  side  with  the  young 
officer,  who,  as  they  conversed,  gazed  upon  her  with 
looks  of  undisguised  admiration,  and  listened  to  her 
remarks  with  an  appearance  of  the  deepest  interest. 

"  My  father  has  been  fortunate  in  providing  a  home 
for  me  in  such  an  excellent  family,"  she  said  ;  "for  it 
Las  been  very  lonesome  here,  and  I  don't  know  what  I 
should  have  done  without  Patsy.  She  is  such  a  dear, 
good  girl  one  can't  help  loving  her ;  don't  you  think 
so,  Major  Burr  ?"  and  she  gave  him  another  glance  of 
those  large,  liquid  eyes,  which  brought  the  hot  blood  to 
his  face,  at  which  his  companion  smiled  archly ;  for  she 
thought  she  read  in  that  blush  a  secret.  The  major, 
however,  made  no  reply,  and  they  walked  on  in  silence. 


LOVE  AT  FIRST   SIGHT.  35 

As  they  approached  the  fence  at  which  the  horses  of 
the  escort  were  fastened,  Margaret  caught  sight  of  the 
trooper  on  guard,  and  a  singular  expression  crossed  her 
face,  which  was  not,  however,  observed  by  the  major. 
When  within  two  or  three  paces  of  him,  she  pointed 
to  some  object  in  another  direction,  and,  as  Major 
Burr  turned  his  head  to  observe  it,  she  looked  full  in 
the  face  of  the  sentry,  and  a  glance  full  of  meaning 
was  exchanged  between  them,  unobserved.  That 
glance,  brief  as  it  was,  spoke  volumes,  and  had  it  been 
noticed  by  the  young  officer,  might  have  saved  trouble, 
sorrow,  and  misery,  and  prevented  the  effusion  of  much 
precious  blood. 

"  Now,  then,  major,"  she  continued,  as  they  entered 
the  house,  "  I  see  Mrs.  Adams  has  been  preparing 
refreshments  for  you,  and  while  you  are  enjoying  her 
hospitality,  I  will  pack  up  my  small  wardrobe  and 
saddle  Selim." 

"  One  of  my  men  will  get  your  horse  ready,  Miss 
Moncrieffe." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  one  of  your  men  attempt  it," 
she  said,  with  a  merry  laugh,  and,  as  she  spoke,  she 
cast  a  hurried,  but  searching  glance  around  the  group 
of  hardy  troopers,  who,  with  their  heavy  swords  trail- 
ing on  the  floor,  were  standing  around  the  table  on 
which  Mrs.  Adams  had  placed  the  homely  refresh 
rnents,  so  welcome  to  them  after  their  hot  ard  dusty 
ride  '*  He  does  not  know  anybody  but  his  mistress. 


S6  MARGARET   MOSCRIEFFE. 

I  take  entire  charge  of  him  myself,  and  he  follows  me 
about  like  a  dog." 

While  thus  speaking  they  entered  the  best  room, 
honored  by  the  appellation  of  parlor,  simply  because  it 
was  not  appropriated  to  culinary  purposes;  for  the 
furniture  was  of  the  most  ordinary  and  homely  de- 
scription—  rush-bottomed  chairs,  with  high,  straight 
backs ;  a  small,  but  very  substantial  mahogany  table 
with  two  leaves,  stood  between  the  windows,  which 
looked  out  upon  the  road,  and  above  it  Mras  a  small 
looking-glass  in  a  plain  gilt  frame.  Around  the  room 
were  hung  three  or  four  coarse  engravings  on  Scriptu« 
ral  subjects;  while  the  white  floor,  scrubbed  and 
cleaned  until  it  was  almost  of  the  whiteness  of  snow, 
was  destitute  of  a  carpet. 

On  the  table  between  the  windows,  Patsy  had  set  forth 
the  refreshments  for  the  young  officer,  and,  as  he  ap- 
proached, drawing  with  him  one  of  the  high-backed 
chairs,  he  met  her  gaze  fixed  on  him  with  an  inquiring 
expression,  as  if  she  had  intended  to  ask :  "  What  do 
you  think  of  her  ?" 

If  the  major  read  her  glance  aright,  he  made  no  reply, 
but  seated  himself  abstractedly,  and  for  a  few  momenta 
leaned  his  head  upon  his  hands. 

"  Well,  major — I  mean  Aaron,"  she  hastily  said,  cor 
recting  herself,  "  you  seem  in  low  spirits." 

"No  Patsy,"  he  said,  raising  his  head,  and  looking 
affectionately  on  her  open,  ingenuous,  and  really  hand 


I.OYE   AT   FIRST   SIGHT.  Zl 

some  face,  reading  in  that  look  the  love  which  he  felt 
she  bore  him ;  "  I  am  tired,  and,  besides,  I  was  think- 
ing." 

'"  What  for  your  thoughts  ?"  she  asked,  archly,  as  he 
commenced  his  repast. 

"  I  dare  not  dispose  of  them,  even  to  you,  Margaret 
— I  beg  pardon,  Patsy  !" 

"  Already,  Major  Burr,"  said  the  young  girl,  half 
reproachfully,  and  he  well  knew  what  she  meant  by 
that  word,  for  his  awkward  mistake  had  implied  a  sud- 
den intimacy  between  the  two  thus  strangely  brought 
together,  which  justified  such  an  appellation. 

"  On  my  word,  no,  Patsy,"  he  replied,  looking 
steadily  in  her  face,  and  speaking  with  such  an  earnest 
sincere  warmth  of  manner,  as  convinced  her  of  ins 
truthfulness.  "I  was  thinking  of  her,  but  not  as  I 
think  of  you." 

Patsy's  countenance  brightened  as  she  listened  to 
this  denial  of  her  suspicions,  for  she  believed  every 
word  he  said,  and  drawing  up  a  chair,  she  seated  her- 
self near  him. 

"When  shall  we  see  you  again,  Aaron?"  she  in- 
quired. 

"  I  dare  not  say,  Patsy,  for  I  cannot  surmise,  myself. 
General  Washington  has  gone  to  Philadelphia  to  con- 
fer with  Congress  as  to  Howe's  next  movements  ;  the 
fleet  has  sailed  from  Virginia,  and  the  impression,  I 
believe,  is,  that  New  York  will  be  the  next  point  of  at« 


38  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFK. 

tack.  We  are  making  all  preparations  to  meet  him, 
and  ever  since  I  have  been  in  the  city,  I  have  been  on 
duty  day  and  night,  hastening  the  fortifications  of  the 
place.  It  was  only  by  chance  I  was  selected  by  Gene- 
ral Putnam  to  escort  this  young  lady  to  his  quarters, 
as  I  happened  to  be  in  the  house  when  her  father's  let- 
ter reached  him." 

"  Is  she  going  to  reside  with  General  Putnam  ?" 
asked  Patsy,  with  an  appearance  of  anxiety,  which  she 
could  not  conceal,  and  which  was  seemingly  not  '  is« 
tified  by  the  simple  assertion  just  made. 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  the  general  replied  to  her  father,  that  — \» 
would  cheerfully  admit  her  as  a  member  of  his  family, 
until  he  could  have  an  opportunity  of  restoring  her  to 
him,  or  until  he  was  in  a  position  to  receive  her." 

For  an  instant  Patsy  sat  mute,  and  with  her  face 
leaning  on  her  hand,  then  raising  her  eyes  to  those  of 
her  companion,  she  said,  earnestly : 

"  You  won't  think  meanly  of  me,  Aaron,  if  I  tell  you 
what  I  am  thinking  of?" 

"  I  never  could  think  meanly  of  you,  Patsy,"  waa 
the  reply,  uttered  quite  as  earnestly  as  had  been  the 
question. 

"  Then,"  and  she  lowered  her  tones,  and  approached 
her  face  near  to  his  own,  "  I  think  you  had  better  watch 
her  very  closely." 

"  Why — what  do  you  mean  ?"  inquired  Major  Burr, 
pausing  between  his  mouthfuls.  "  She  is  only  a  child." 


LOVE   AT  FIRST   SIGHT.  39 

"  Yes,  but  a  forward  and  precocious  child.  She  is 
shrewd,  observing,  and  so  devotedly  attached  to  the 
cause  in  which  her  father  is  engaged,  I  really  think 
she  would  scruple  at  nothing  to  forward  its  success." 

"  I  thank  you,  Patsy,  for  your  warning,"  said  the 
young  major,  smiling ;  "  but  I  am  sure  you  are  mis- 
taken in  your  own  thoughts,"  and  he  looked  meaningly 
at  her — so  meaningly,  that  the  blood  mounted  to  her 
face,  and  her  eyes  fell  beneath  his  ardent  gaze. 

Perhaps  she  was.  Perhaps  there  lurked  in  her 
bosom  the  apprehension  that  the  fascinations  of  the 
young  and  beautiful  stranger,  who  would  be  thrown 
constantly  into  his  society,  might  win  from  her  th« 
heart  she  now  trusted,  and  believed  was  all  her  own. 
Perhaps  there  arose  some  latent  fear,  that  once  within 
the  sphere  of  her  attractions,  he  would  forget  the 
truthful  girl  to  whom  he  had  so  often  offered  vows  of 
enduring  love.  But  if  such  was  the  case,  no  wor-ds 
passed  her  lips  to  confirm  it,  and  seeing  that  she  had 
been  misconstrued,  she  at  once  changed  the  subject. 
In  a  few  minutes,  and  before  Major  Burr  had  completed 
his  repast,  Miss  Moncrieffe  entered  the  room,  bearing  in 
on 9  hand  a  small  russet-covered  valise,  and  in  the  other 
a  pair  of  horseman's  pistols,  elegantly  mounted,  and 
which  she  placed  on  the  table  before  him,  saying,  as 
she  did  so : 

"  There,  major,  are  those  not  beauties  ?"  and  she 
looked  at  them  almost  affectionately.  "  My  dear 


40  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

father  carried  them  through  two  campaigns  in  India, 
and  left  them  with  me  when  he  was  ordered  to  join  his 
regiment  on  Staten  Island,  and  I  have  made  good  use 
of  them,  I  promise  you." 

Major  Burr  took  one  of  them  up,  and  after  ex- 
amining it  with  the  eye  of  a  connoisseur,  replied : 

"  They  seem  to  be  very  superior  weapons ;  can  you 
really  use  them  ?" 

"  Ask  Patsy,"  she  said,  laughingly,  as  she  deposited 
her  little  valise  on  the  floor  at  her  feet,  and  she  turned 
TO  the  party  named,  as  if  seeking  her  reply. 

"  You  will  find  very  few  who  can  use  them  with 
greater  certainty  than  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  replied  Patsy ; 
and  as  she  spoke  an  expression  of  pain  crossed  her  fea- 
tures, for  she  saw  the  gaze  of  Major  Burr  fastened  upon 
the  fair  stranger  with  evident  admiration.  She  was 
dressed  in  a  long  green  ridingcabit,  which,  fitting 
closely,  set  off  her  fine,  full  form  to  the  greatest  advan- 
tage, the  long  train  being  drawn  around  in  front,  and 
tucked  inside  of  the  broad  leather  belt  which  encircled 
her  waist.  Her  hair  had  been  drawn  up,  and  was  con- 
cealed by  a  cloth  cap  of  the  same  color  as  her  dress, 
and  ornamented  with  a  black  ostrich  feather,  and 
vhich,  being  placed  jauntily  on  one  side  of  her  head, 
gave  an  expression  to  her  really  beautiful  face,  which 
might  well  command  the  admiration  of  the  young 
officer,  who,  as  he  looked,  thought  he  had  new  rv*» 
anything  half  so  beautiful. 


LOVE  AT  FIRST  SIGHT.  41 

Miss  Moncrieffe  noticed  his  look,  and  turning  to 
Patsy,  saw  that  the  c  &lor  had  entirely  left  her  face, 
which,  as  she  gazed  on  Major  Burr,  bore  an  expression 
of  absolute  pain,  and  a  flash  of  triumph  rose  to  her 
eyes,  but  it  passed  away  as  quickly  as  it  had  come. 

"  Now,  then,  I  will  go  and  saddle  Selim,  and  will 
be  with  you  in  a  few  moments,  so  make  your  adieux, 
major,"  and  she  smiled  archly,  turning  from  him  to 
Patsy,  whose  color,  now  returned,  covered  face,  and 
neck,  and  brow. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PBEPARDTG  FOB  THE  JOUBNEY. 

MAEG  ABET  left  Major  Burr  and  Patsy,  and  proceeded 
directly  to  the  small  shed,  scarcely  worth  the  name 
even  of  stable,  where  Selim  was  housed,  and  as  she 
passed  along  the  path  which  led  to  it,  a  singular  ex- 
pression was  on  her  face.  Perhaps  it  was  one  of  tri- 
umph— perhaps  of  mere  exultation — perhaps — but  no 
matter  what ;  it  was  an  expression  evidently  called 
there  by  some  extraordinary  occasion,  and  it  was  well 
that  he  who  was  most  connected  with  it  had  not  ob- 
served it. 

Selim,  a  noble,  powerfu1  bay  horse,  showing  all  the 
signs  of  blood  and  breeding,  turned  his  head  as  he 
heard  his  young  mistress  enter  the  stable,  and  fasten- 
ing his  large  eyes  upon  her  with  an  expression  almost 
human,  neighed  out  his  pleasure  at  the  sight  of  the  one 
to  whom  he  was  so  strongly  attached.  Selim  was  in- 
deed  worthy  of  all  her  high  praises,  for  in  addition  to 
the  possession  of  great  powers  of  endurance  and  high 
speed,  he  seemed  endowed  with  even  more  than  a 
horse's  sagacity,  and  naturalists  have  placed  that  ani- 


PREPARING  FOR  THE  JOURNEY.          43 

raal  at  the  head  of  all  others  for  intelligence  and  instinct 
— an  instinct  amounting  sometimes  almost  to  intellect. 

"  Selim,  my  good  friend,"  she  said,  approaching  and 
patting  his  neck,  "  it's  no  play-ride  to-day ;  you  are 
going  among  those  who  don't  like  anything  that  comes 
from  dear  old  England,  and  I  am  afraid  you  won't  fare 
so  well  as  you  do  even  here." 

Selim  rubbed  his  nose  against  her  shoulder,  as  she 
was  untying  the  halter  which  secured  him  in  his  stall 
and  testified  his  pleasure  again  at  her  presence  by  a 
low  whinny.  Perhaps  he  understood  what  she  said. 

"  Yes,  old  friend,"  she  continued,  as  she  lifted  down 
the  cumbersome  side-saddle  of  those  days,  and  placed 
it  on  his  ready  back,  "  you'll  have  a  long  and  hot  ride 
to-day,  and  you  won't  have  your  mistress  to  take  care 
of  you  when  you  get  to  the  end  of  your  journey.  No 
matter ;  be  a  good  fellow,  and  I'll  come  and  see  you,  if 
I  can't  do  any  more." 

The  saddle  was  adjusted,  the  girths  tightened  to  the 
regular  mark,  and  the  heavy  military  bridle,  which 
formed  a  part  of  his  trappings,  placed  in  his  mouth 
without  resistance,  for  Selim  was  glad  to  have  the  little 
exercise  which  the  occasional  rides  with  his  young  mis- 
tress afforded. 

As  she  ied  him  out  toward  the  fence,  where  the 
troopers'  horses  were  picketed,  she  turned  toward  the 
house  and  looked  through  the  open  door  of  the  kitch- 
en, or  rather  that  portion  of  the  house  devoted  to 


44  MARGARET 

kitchen  uses  ;  she  perceived  the  troopers  still  standing 
around  the  table,  and  a  glance  in  the  other  direction 
showed  that  the  same  man  was  on  sentry  whom  she  had 
first  noticed,  and  between  whom  and  herself  such  mean- 
ing  glances  had  been  exchanged. 

Assured  of  this,  she  approached  him  boldly,  and  in. 
authoritative  tones  commanded  him  to  make  her  horse 
fast  also ;  as  he  advanced  to  obey  her  mandate,  she 
turned  toward  the  house,  so  as  to  be  able  to  perceive 
any  one  who  might  come  out,  and  said  to  him,  but 
without  looking  at  him,  "  what  are  you  doing  here, 
Hickey,  and  wearing  that  uniform  ?" 

"  Can't  you  guess,  Miss  Margaret  ?"  he  replied,  in 
low  tones,  at  the  same  time  taking  hold  of  her  horse's 
bridle,  and  leading  him  to  a  spot  most  remote  from  the 
horses  which  he  was  guarding,  followed,  however,  by 
Margaret,  who  continued  in  the  same  strain : 
"  Does  any  one  suspect  you,  or  your  purpose  ?" 
"  Not  a  soul.     Governor  Tryon  knows  all  about  it, 
but  he's  on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gordon." 
"  Do  you  communicate  with  him  ?" 
"  We  used  to  do  so  before  old  Putnam  took  command, 
and  without  any  great  trouble ;  but  as  soon  as  he  came, 
he  forbade  all  communication  between  the  ships  and 
the  shore,  and  the  ships  have  now  gone  down  outside 
the  bay." 

"  Can  you  send  word  to  him  now  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  we  manage  that,"  he  replied  with  a  mean- 


PREPARING  FOR  TUB  JOURNEY.  45 

tng  smile,  "  only  there's  a  good  deal  more  risk  about  it 
than  there  used  to  be.  Where  are  you  going,  miss  ?" 

"  To  New  York,  to  live  with  General  Putnam.** 

"  In  his  house  ?» 

"  In  his  own  house,  with  his  family.  Can  you  send 
word  to  Governor  Try  on  that  I  am  there  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  can  ;  and  how  glad  he  will  be  to  heai 
it." 

"  Tell  him  I  am  ready  to  do  anything  he  desires,  tf 
serve  my  country  and  her  cause.  You  stupid  fellow," 
she  suddenly  exclaimed,  in  a  loud  voice,  as  she  saw  a 
trooper  emerge  from  the  house  to  relieve  the  party 
with  whom  she  was  talking,  so  that  he  might  enjoy  the 
hospitality  of  Mrs.  Adams,  "  don't  you  see  how  you 
have  fastened  that  horse  ?" 

"  Where  can  I  see  you  ?"  she  added,  in  tones  so  low 
they  only  reached  the  ears  for  whom  they  were  in- 
tended. 

"  I  must  manage  that  when  I  get  to  the  city.  Right 

opposite  the  general's  quarters,  there  is" But  the 

approach  of  the  trooper  checked  the  sentence,  and  he 
said  in  his  usual  voice,  "  I  will  fasten  him  better,  miss," 
and  he  commenced  fumbling  about  Selim's  bridle,  who, 
however,  stood  with  his  head  turned,  and  eyes  intently 
fastened  upon  his  mistress,  as  if  to  ask  why  she  per- 
mitted any  one  to  do  that  which  belonged  only  to 
her. 

"  Of  course  you  don't  know  me,  Hickey."    A  look 


4t$  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

assured  her  that  she  was  understood,  for  his  relief  was 
now  too  near  for  further  words. 

"That  is  a  fine  horse  you  have,  miss,". said  the 
trooper — a  tall,  fresh-looking  young  man,  standing 
over  six  feet  in  his  stockings,  and  he  gazed  admiringly 
on  Selim. 

"  He  is,  indeed,"  she  said,  turning  upon  him  her 
brilliant  eyes,  and  trying  to  read  in  that  glance  his 
character. 

Whatever  she  might  have  read,  she  could  find  in  his 
frank,  open,  sun-burnt  countenance,  no  encouragement 
to  hope  she  could^ bring  him  also  within  her  power  by 
the  fascination  of  her  charms,  and  she  continued : 

"  He  is  a  noble,  brave  beast,  and  I  love  him — don't 
1,  Selim  ?"  and,  approaching  him,  she  patted  his  arched 
neck,  as  he  stooped  to  receive  her  welcome  caress. 

The  young  trooper  gazed  alternately  at  the  maiden 
and  at  the  horse,  and  upon  each  with  looks  of  admira 
tion,  for  each  were  worthy  of  it,  and,  turning  to  Mar- 
garet, said :  "  He  looks  to  be  high  mettled." 

"  He  is  as  gentle  as  a  lamb,  and  as  playful  a*  a  kitten, 
and  minds  me  like  a  dog,"  and  as  she  spoke,  she  gave 
him  another  friendly  pat,  and  turned  to  go  into  the 
house,  to  await  further  directions  of  the  young  officer, 
in  whose  charge  she  was  to  remain  until  placed  in  a 
proper  position  of  security. 

She  found  Major  Burr  and  Patsy  as  she  had  left 
them,  still  seated  at  the  table,  deeply  engaged  io  ear- 


PREPARING   FOK   THE  JOURNEY.  41 

»ost  conversation  ;  the  cheeks  of  the  young  £irl  -were 
flushed — her  eyes  beamed  with  .a  soft  look,  and  there 
was  every  indication,  at  least  on  her  part,  that  they 
bad  arrived  at  a  mutual  and  pleasant  understanding, 
though  Margaret  had  too  much  tact  to  notice  the 
change  in  her  appearance  ;  but,  approaching  the  table, 
she  took  from  it  her  pistols  which  she  had  placed  there 
on  her  first  entrance,  and,  opening  the  pans  of  th« 
locks,  examined  them  carefully,  to  see  if  they  were 
properly  primed ;  then,  drawing  forth  the  ramrods, 
she  tried  each  barrel,  to  see  if  it  was  duly  loaded. 

"  You  are  exceedingly  particular,  Miss  Moncrieffe," 
said  Major  Burr,  as  he  looked  admiringly  at  the  young 
and  beautiful  girl,  thus  cautiously  providing  against 
accident  or  design. 

"  I  was  always  taught  that  a  pistol  would  be  useless 
unless  loaded  and  primed,"  she  said,  quietly;  and 
having  satisfied  herself  that  all  was  right,  and,  lifting 
her  valise  from  the  floor,  she  continued  :  "  I  will  have 
this  strapped  on  Selim,  and  then  I  shall  be  ready  for 
you,  major,"  and  she  moved  gracefully  away,  bearing 
in  one  hand  the  loaded  pistols,  and  in  the  other  the 
valise. 

Major  Burr,  with  a  gallantry  and  a  grace  peculiar  to 
himself,  and  in  which  few  could  excel  him,  sprang  for- 
ward to  relieve  her  of  the  valise ;  but  with  a  smile  and 
a  courtesy,  she  declined  his  aid,  and  again  he  was1  alone 
with  Patsy. 


4B  HAEOARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

45 1  don't  like  her,  Aaron,"  said  Patsy,  turning  to  the 
major,  as  she  followed  with  her  eyes  the  i  el;  eating 
form  of  the  graceful  girl. 

"  I  know  that  very  well,"  he  replied,  with  a  quiet 
smile ;  "  but  there's  no  occasion  for  alarm,  Patsy."  And 
Patsy  shook  her  head  meaningly ;  for  she  had  good 
cause  to  dread  the  fascinations  of  the  beautiful  and 
bigh-bred  girl,  as  compared  with  her  own  humble  but 
more  substantial  charms. 

A  few  words  of  kindly  greeting  passed  between 
Margaret  and  her  hostess,  as  she  thanked  her  courte- 
ously and  gracefully  for  her  kindness  during  the  period 
she  had  been  an  inmate  of  her  family.  To  Patsy  she 
gave  a  warm  embrace,  and,  as  she  imprinted  on  her 
forehead  a  farewell  kiss,  she  drew  from  her  finger  and 
slipped  on  one  of  Patsy's,  a  beautiful  turquoise  ring. 

"  Keep  that,  Patsy,  in  remembrance  of  me  ;  and  per- 
haps the  time  may  come  when  I  shall  be  able  to  repay 
your  kindness  to  me.  Now,  major,  I  will  leave  you  to 
your  adieux,'r  and,  with  a  quiet  smile,  she  withdrew, 
and  proceeded  toward  the  place  where  Selim  was 
picketed. 

The  valise  was  strapped  on  behind  the  saddle ;  the 
pistols  were  carefully  placed  in  the  holsters,  and  step- 
ping lightly  on  the  outstretched  hand  of  the  young 
trooper,  who  had  paid  her  the  compliment  of  admiring 
her  horse,  she  sprang  to  the  saddle,  and,  adjusting  her- 
Belf  m  the  seat,  turned  her  head  toward  the  house  Mid 


PREPARING    FOR  THE  JOURNEY.  49 

awaited  the  approach  of  the  leader,  who  was  to  escort 
her  to  her  new  home. 

A  very  few  moments  sufficed  to  pay  his  adieux  to 
Mrs.  Adams  and  Patsy,  and,  vaulting  in  the  saddle  with 
a  light  spring,  the  party  was  put  in  motion. 

Major  Burr  and  Margaret  brought  up  the  rear,  the 
troopers  riding  about  a  hundred  feet  ahead  of  the  main 
body,  to  keep  a  look-out  ahead,  and  in  this  order  they 
left  the  house,  and  were  soon  hidden  from  sight  by  the 
dense  forests  through  which  their  road  lay. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  ROYALISTS   IN  THE   CITY. 

Bur  leaving  the  major  and  his  fair  and  fascinating 
companion,  let  us  turn  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where 
events  were  daily  transpiring  which  involved  seriously 
the  deepest  interests  of  the  Colonies,  and  which,  if 
carried  to  consummation,  might  have  terminated  most 
disastrously  for  their  cause  and  liberties. 

The  head-quarters  of  the  commander-in-chief  were  at 
that  period  located  at  Richmond  Hill,  now  far  below 
the  centre  of  our  city's  limits,  though  then  so  far  re- 
moved from  its  resident  population  as  to  be  deemed  at 
a  great  distance  from  the  city  proper.  The  house  se- 
lected for  the  head-quarters  of  General  "Washington 
was  large  and  spacious,  aifording  abundant  room  for 
his  family  and  suite,  and  was  in  after  years  purchased 
by  Major  Burr,  and  occupied  by  him  as  his  residence, 
the  hill  and  pond  which  lay  beneath  being  recognized  as 
"  Burr's  Hill '»  and  "  Burr's  Pond." 

It  was  situated  on  an  eminence  commanding  a  view 
of  the  Hudson  River  and  bay,  for  at  that  time  there 
were  no  houses  or  other  objects  in  the  vicinity  to  ob- 
struct the  vision.  The  mansion  was  surrounded  by 


THE   EOYALISTS   IN  THE   CITT.  I/. 

noble  trees;  a  carefully  cultivated  ISTD  stretching  o/ 
one  side  as  far  as  the  road,  which  i  ;a  paot  the  house 
and  a  beautiful  garden,  in  a  high  st  /.j  of  cultivation, 
skirting  it  on  either  side. 

Across  the  road,  and  distant  pei  aps  two  hundred 
yards  southward,  stood  a  small  tv  vstory  farm-house, 
occupied  at  that  time  as  a  taverv  t  by  a  well-known 
Tory,  named  Corbie.  It  was  the  ruort  of  all  parties — 
Whig  and  Tory — for  Whig  and  Tory  alike,  in  those 
days,  would  frequent  any  place  where  refreshments 
could  be  procured,  for  there  were  very  few  allowed  in 
the  city  at  that  time.  There  was  one  at  the  lower  end 
of  the  city,  known  >y  the  sign  of  the  "Highlander," 
and  standing  at  wb  j  is  noAv  the  corner  of  Broadway 
and  Beaver  stree*  directly  opposite  the  then  head- 
quarters  of  Gener  t  Putnam,  already  named  ;  but  the 
house  kept  by  Co-  jie,  being  furthest  removed  from  the 
city  proper,  and  nence  less  under  the  surveillance  of 
the  officers,  receded  much  the  larger  share  of  custom; 
and  it  was  sure  Jsed,  as  it  was  afterward  well  estab- 
lished,  that  Avitkin  its  walls  was  hatched  many  a  con- 
spiracy against  our  country  and  its  liberties.  The 
life-guard  of  the  commander-in-chief,  when  not  ou 
actual  duty  at  Richmond  Hill,  found  this  a  very  con- 
venient place  of  resort,  and  many  a  Continental  dollar 
found  its  way  into  the  rapacious  pocket  of  Corbie,  in 
exchange  for  the  Jamaica  rum  and  other  bibables  which 
be  kept  on  sale.  Here  Whig  and  Tory  met,  as  it 


1,2  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

were,  on  neutral  ground,  and  here  were  freely  discussed 
the  affairs  of  the  two  nations — no,  of  the  parent  and 
child — which  then  convulsed  the  world.  Many,  too, 
were  the  brawls,  by  day  and  by  night,  which  the  house 
had  witnessed,  and  which  were  only  suppressed  by  the 
approach  of  the  guard,  who  were  ordered  thither  when 
the  discovery  was  made  that  some  quarrel  was  going 
on.  General  Putnam,  however,  had  put  Corbie  under 
heavy,  bonds,  and  thenceforward  the  house  was  much 
more  peaceable,  though  none  the  less  suspected. 

It  was  on  the  night  before  the  departure  of  Major 
Burr,  with  his  escort,  to  bring  to  New  York  the 
daughter  of  the  British  soldier,  who  had  been  confided 
by  him  to  the  care  and  courtesy  of  the  rough,  blunt, 
but  brave  and  honorable  soldier,  General  Putnam — a 
charge  cheerfully  assumed,  and  which  was  most  faith- 
fully kept.  The  sky  was  overcast  with  heavy  clouds, 
portending  a  thunder  shower,  or  storm  of  long  dura- 
tion, and  the  inmates  of  the  house  gathered  in  the  bar- 
room, or  rather  the  room  devoted  to  the  reception  of 
such  guests  as  came  there  only  to  smoke  their  pipes 
or  quaff  their  liquor. 

There  were  several  soldiers  from  the  fortifications 
and  various  breastworks,  which  extended  up  from  the 
Battery  as  far  as  Richmond  Hill ;  there  were  some  of 
the  life-guardsmen,  and  there  was  a  fair  sprinkling  of 
Tory  residents  from  the  vicinity  ;  there,  too,  conspicu- 
ous among  the  motly  throng,  were  three  of  the  soldierf 


THE   KOYALISTS   IX   THE   CITY.  TC 

belonging  to  the  Smallwood's  Maryland  battalion, 
noticeable  especially  for  their  showy  scarlet  uniform, 
trimmed  with  buff,  and  at  that  time  they  were  almost 
the  only  corps  in  the  city,  out  of  the  thousands  by 
whom  it  was  garrisoned,  who  could  boast  of  a  uni- 
formity of  dress  or  accoutrements. 

There  were,  however,  two  or  three  persons  present 
deserving  more  than  a  passing  notice  ;  and  entitled 
justly  to  the  first  consideration,  was  the  landlord,  Cor. 
bie,  whose  name  has  been  handed  down  to  posterity  as 
connected  with  the  most  infamous  plot  that  ever  was 
conceived  by  an  enemy  claiming  to  conduct  an  honor- 
able warfare.  He  was  a  small,  rosy-cheeked  man,  with 
a  lound  face,  a  keen  blue  eye,  and  a  nose  which  evi- 
denced his  fanriliar  acquaintance  with  the  contents  of 
his  larder  and  cellar.  Although  in  the  humble  position 
of  landlord  of  a  wayside  house,  he  was  by  nature  and 
intellect  fitted  for  much  higher  uses,  and  the  choice  of 
this  man,  by  Governor  Tryon,  as  the  chief  agent  in  a 
plot  so  desperate  in  its  conception,  and  which,  if  suc- 
cessful, would  have  been  productive  of  the  most  disas- 
trous results,  displayed  on  his  part  a  just  conception  and 
a  correct  appreciation  of  character,  fov  the  man  was 
really  as  shrewd  and  cunning  as  a  fox ;  never  taken  by 
surprise  under  any  circumstances,  cool,  brave,  and  de- 
termined, ready  for  any  emergency,  and  so  devoted  a 
royalist,  that  he  would  have  lost  his  right  hand  sooner 
than  deny  his  allegiance  to  bis  sovereign.  His  keen, 


34  MAKGAEET  MOKCRIEPFE. 

penetrating  eye  was  ever  wandering  over  his  guests, 
md  intuitively  he  seemed  to  read  the  character  of  each. 
There  were  the  restless,  nervous,  homesick  light  horse- 
men from  Connecticut,  who,  having  volunteered  cheer- 
fully for  the  defence  of  the  city,  refused  to  perform  any 
duty  except  such  as  might  be  discharged  with  the  aid 
of  their  horses,  and  who  were  subsequently  dismissed 
by  the  commander-in-chicf,  with  the  stinging  remark, 
that  "  he  did  not  care  how  soou  they  were  discharged, 
since  they  declined  to  stand  guard,  work  in  the  batte- 
ries, or  perform  any  of  a  soldier's  duty." 

There  were  the  gallant  Jerseymen,  commanded  by  the 
intrepid  Morgan,  who  played  such  a  conspicuous  part 
in  our  country's  history  in  after  days,  dressed  in  home- 
spun, linsey-woolsey — in  fact,  anything  which  would 
cover  them — and  armed  with  their  unerring  rifles, 
with  which  they  ever  committed  such  fearful  havoo 
as  to  render  their  name  a  terror  to  the  foe,  and  their 
appearance  a  signal  for  flight  to  any  equal  numbers. 

The  South  Carolinians,  the  Pennsylvaniaris,  the  hardy 
sons  of  Xew  Hampshire,  all  were  represented  on  that 
evening.  Conspicuous  among  all,  however,  from  the 
honorable  position  filled  by  them,  and  the  confidence 
reposed  in  them,  were  the  "  life-guardsmen,"  appointed 
to  protect  the  person  of  the  commander-in-chief ;  tall, 
stalwart  men,  who  had  been  well  and  severely  tried,  but 
who  had  never  been  found  wanting ;  men  who  had 
earned  by  bravery  and  inconuitible  fidelity,  the  glori 


THE   BOTALISTS   IN  THE   CITY.  55 

cms  privilege  of  protecting  the  life 'and  person  of  the 
deliverer  of  his  country. 

Foremost  among  those,  and  especially  noticeable  from 
his  commanding  height  and  erect  bearing,  stood  Tho- 
mas Hickey,  a  deserter  from  the  Royalist  army,  but 
one  who  had  so  often  proved  himself  brave  and  true, 
that  he  had  been  promoted  to  the  high  and  honorable 
position  of  a  "  life-guardsman." 

"  Come,  boys,  another  round ;  I'll  stand  treat  for  the 
company  this  time,  and  I  don't  want  anybody  to  drink 
to  my  toast  who  don't  choose,"  said  a  short,  thick- 
set  man,  with  a  red  face ;  a  nose  much  redder  than  his 
face,  and  remarkable  for  his  keen,  light,  restless  blue 
eye,  which  was  ever  wandering  around  with  an  expres- 
sion half-searching,  half-suspicious. 

He  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  an  Englishman  in 
feeling,  and  thoroughly  English  in  his  attire.  He  wag 
dressed  in  a  drab  fustian  coat,  knee-breeches  of 
the  same  color,  made  of  corduroy,  and  wore  heavy 
top  boots.  It  was  Gilbert  Forbes,  the  gunsmith, 
who  had  his  shop  on  Broadway,  near  what  is  now 
called  Maiden  Lane,  and  being  a  perfect  master  of 
his  trade,  his  shop  was  frequented  by  the  better 
class  of  customers,  without  distinction  of  party  or 
country. 

"  Come  boys,  one  more  round,"  and  he  turned  to  the 
landlord,  Corbie,  with  whom  he  exchanged  a  significant 
glance,  and  the  \villing  host  placed  upon  his  table 


56  MARGARET  MONCRIKFFE. 

glasses  for  the  company,  and  proceeded  to  fill  them  ao 
cording  to  the  tastes  and  wishes  of  his  guests. 

"  None  of  your  infernal  Tory  toasts,  Mister  Forbes," 
said  a  tall,  strapping  young  countryman,  one  of  the  Con- 
necticut light  horse,  who  had  so  promptly  volunteered 
for  the  defence  of  the  city,  when  rumors  of  an  expected 
attack  from  the  British  reached  their  State,  but  who 
when  required  to  mount  guard,  work  on  the  batteries, 
or  perform  other  military  duties,  declined,  on  the  score 
that  they  were  horsemen,  and  ought  not  be  required  to 
do  duty  of  foot  soldiers ;  "  I  won't  stand  any  of  them," 
he  continued,  straightening  himself  up,  and  glancing 
around  to  see  how  many  friends  he  could  count  upon  in 
case  of  trouble  arising  from  his  interference. 

Forbes  laid  down  his  glass,  which  he  held  in  his  hand, 
and  gazed  on  the  speaker  with  looks  of  anything  but 
friendly  regard:  "Look  here,  my  young  friend,  you 
ain't  master  yet,  and  mayhap  you  won't  be  so  soon  as 
you  expect ;  so  it's  best  to  keep  a  civil  tongue  in  your 
head,  or  you  may  get  it  broke  for  your  pains." 

"  Shut  your  own  mouth,  you  infernal  Tory,"  ex- 
claimed one  of  Smallwood's  men,  advancing  to  the  side 
of  his  Yankee  friend ;  for  though  there  was  the  most 
desperate  sectional  feeling  existing  among  the  motley 
array  of  Continental  troops  then  occupying  the  city,  on 
an  occasion  like  the  present,  when  trouble  appeared  to 
be  at  hand,  North  and  South  were  forgotten,  and  the 
gallant  southerner  was  as  ready  to  fight  for  his  Yankee 


THE   ROYALISTS   IX   THE   CITY.  57 

comrade,  as  he  would  have  been  to  fight  with  him,  on 
the  smallest  provocation. 

"  Well,  I'm  in  my  own  house,  any  how,  and  I  will  do 
as  I  choose,  and  I'd  like  to  see  the  man  who  will  inter- 
fere with  me.  I'll  offer  a  toast,  and  you  can  drink 
it,  or  not,"  said  Corbie,  filling  a  glass  for  himself,  and 
without  waiting  for  any  reply,  'he  exclaimed ;  "  Here's 
to  the  King  and  his  cause,  God  bless  " 

He  had  not  time  to  finish  his  sentence,  for  Gray,  the 
Connecticut  farmer,  sprung  forward,  and  dashing  the 
contents  of  his  glass  in  the  landlord's  face,  seized  him 
by  the  neck,  and  fairly  choked  the  words  down  his 
throat. 

Forbes  and  the  other  Tories  sprang  to  the  assistance 
of  their  friend.  Weapons  which  hitherto  had  been  con- 
cealed,  were  now  drawn  forth,  and  a  general  and  des- 
perate affray  seemed  inevitable.  At  this  juncture,  tho 
door  of  the  tap-room  was  thrown  open,  and  a  tall,  com- 
manding-looking man,  with  a  sergeant's  chevron  on  his 
arm,  and  bearing  a  musket,  entered,  and  advanced  be- 
tween the  contending  parties : 

"  Silence  !"  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  as 
he  saw  the  position  of  affairs ;  "  silence,  and  disperse, 
or  I'll  put  every  man  in  the  guard-house." 

"  And  who  the  devil  are  you  ?"  exclaimed  Forbes, 
glaring  at  the  intruder. 

"  I  am  the  sergeant  of  the  guard,  and  if  you  don't 
cease  from  brawling,  I'll  march  every  man  to  tho  guard' 
3* 


M  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

hoase.  Corbie !"  and  he  turned  to  the  landlord,  who, 
released  from  the  vice-like  grasp  of  the  young  giant, 
was  adjusting  his  rumpled  shirt  and  cravat,  "I  shall 
report  your  house  as  disorderly,  and  have  it  shut  tip  at 
once,  if  I  hear  any  more  of  this  again." 

"  I  don't  keep  a  disorderly  house,  Sergeant  Drake, 
and  you  know  it.  I've  got  a  right  to  speak  my  mind  in 
my  own  house,  I'm  thinking." 

"  You  shan't  drink  such  an  infernal  Tory  toast  as  that 
in  my  presence,  if  it  was  ten  times  your  house,"  ex- 
claimed Gray,  the  young  Connecticut  soldier,  whose 
blood  was  now  at  fever  heat. 

"  Come,  disperse,  and  let's  have  no  more  words  about 
it,"  said  the  sergeant.  "  You,  Forbes,  are  always  mixed 
up  with  pome  brawl,  or  doing  something  worse.  Go 
home,  and  don't  compel  me  to  make  you." 

"  I'd  like  to  see  you  do  it,"  said  the  gunsmith,  sulkily. 

"  That  is  easily  done,"  replied  the  sergeant,  turning 
to  the  door,  and  advancing,  as  if  about  to  give  the  or- 
der for  the  guard  to  advance  ;  but  he  was  interrupted 
by  Corbie,  who  passed  rapidly  from  behind  the  bar, 
and  laid  his  hand  upon  the  soldier's  arm,  gently. 

"  Please  don't,  Sergeant  Drake ;  it's  not  my  fault, 
and  it  w?l  only  hurt  me,  you  know,  without  doing  you 
any  goo'i,"  and  he  winked  so  significantly,  that  the  color 
came  to  the  sergeant's  face,  for  the  truth  was,  he  had 
taken  many  a  sly  glass  with  Corbie,  for  which  he  was 
never  required  to  pay. 


THE   ROYALISTS   IN   THE  CITY.  69 

"Well,"  he  said,  half  hesitatingly,  "I  will  pass  this 

over,  but Ah,  Hickey  1"  he  said,  for  the  first  time 

perceiving  the  life-guardsman,  who  had  managed  thug 
far  to  keep  out  of  the  sergeant's  sight,  "  I  was  looking 
for  you,  but  did  not  expect  to  find  you  here.  I  have 
left  orders  for  you  to  report  to  Major  Burr,  at  head- 
quarters, to-morrow  at  six  o'clock." 

Hickey's  countenance  fell  as  these  words  were 
uttered,  and  he  turned  from  the  speaker  to  Forbes  and 
Corbie,  as  if  to  ask  them  what  it  meant.  The  sergeant 
was  at  that  moment  engaged  in  looking  around  among 
the  inmates  of  the  room,  and  did  not  perceive  this  move- 
ment ;  if  he  had,  he  would  have  noticed  that  glances 
full  of  meaning  were  exchanged  between  the  trio. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  replied  the  guardsman,  touching 
his  cap,  for  he  was  by  these  words  under  orders,  and 
without  a  reply,  except  to  bid  the  assemblage  good 
night,  he  left  the  room,  and  proceeded  to  his  barracks 
near  the  "  Richmond  Hill  House." 

"  Sergeant,  you  had  better  take  something ;  it  won't 
do  you  any  harm,  and  it's  a  nasty,  wet  night,"  said 
Corbie,  going  behind  the  bar,  and  while  speaking  he 
poured  out  a  tumbler  two-thirds  full  of  Jamaica  rum, 
which  he  handed  to  the  sergeant,  who  tossed  it  off"  with 
a  relish  that  showed  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
flavor  of  that  liquor. 

"  Xow,  then,  good  night,"  he  said,  smacking  his  lips, 
and  trailing  his  musket,  he  started  for  the  door ;  but 


60  MABGABET   MONCB1EFFE. 

before  he  reached  it,  turned  and  said :  "  Now,  boys, 
no  more  brawling  nor  quarrelling." 

"  Oh,  no,  of  course  not,"  chorused  the  party,  Whigs 
and  Tories,  glad  to  have  escaped  thus  easily  from  a 
night's  sojourn  in  the  guard-house. 

"  Come,  boys,  empty  your  glasses  without  the  toast," 
said  Corbie,  as  the  door  closed  on  the  retreating  form 
of  the  sergeant.  "  It's  getting  on  to  nine  o'clock,  and 
you've  all  got  to  be  at  quarters  by  that  time,  according 
to  orders.  Forbes,"  he  said,  turning  to  the  gun- 
smith, "  it's  a  miserable  night.  Do  you  stay  here  with 
me ;  you  couldn't  get  through  the  lines  in  time,  I'm 
sure." 

"  Thank'ee,  Corbie,  I  will,"  replied  Forbes,  and  he 
drained  his  glass,  an  'example  which  was  followed  by 
the  party,  who  strolled  out,  one  by  one,  until  at  length 
the  landlord  and  the  gunsmith  were  alone. 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape,  Forbes,"  said  the  burly 
landlord,  as  he  proceeded  to  clbse  his  house,  locking 
and  barring  the  doors  and  windows,  a  precaution  ren- 
dered very  necessary,  for  often  parties  of  straggling 
Whigs,  who  had  been  caught  outside  of  the  lines  after 
hours,  would  force  an  entrance  into  his  house,  and 
compel  him  to  entertain  them  until  morning,  when 
they  would  depart,  leaving  the  host  to  collect  his 
reckoning  as  he  could. 

"  The  boat  will  be  along  before  a  great  while,  and 
if" 


THE   ROYALISTS   IN  THE   CITT.  61 

"  Never  mind.  "Walls  have  ears ;  so  keep  mum,  and 
wait  for  the  signal.  Matthews  sent  word  that  a  dis- 
patch for  him  was  coming  up  to-night  from  Governor 
Tryon,  and  there  ought  to  be  some  money  with  it.M 


CHAPTER  VL 

THE   ATTACK   AND  ITS   EESULTS. 

'*  You  have  seen  hard  service  for  your  years,  major," 
said  Miss  Moncrieffe,  as  they  rode  along,  and  the 
young  girl  looked  at  the  beardless  soldier  by  her  side, 
with  a  patronizing  air  which  would  have  become  a 
matron  of  forty. 

The  major  smiled  as  he  interpreted  her  look,  and 
retorted  :  "  I  think  you,  for  your  years,  have  a  decided 
advantage  over  me." 

"  Ah  !  but  I've  never  seen  real  service,"  she  replied, 
archly. 

"  Would  you  be  afraid  ?"  he  asked,  earnestly. 

"  I  am  a  soldier's  daughter,"  she  said,  commencing 
with  a  smile,  and  closing  with  something  of  hauteur  in 
her  manner. 

"  Suppose  the  Cow-boys  should  attack  us,"  he  said 
willing  to  test  her,  and  scanning  her  face  as  he  spoke. 

"  I  think  I  could  make  sure  of  one,  perhaps  two," 
and  she  pointed  with  the  handle  of  her  riding-whip  to 
the  holsters  which  contained  her  pistols.  "  If  I  should 
miss  them  both,  I  should  trust  to  Providence  and 
Selim's  heels." 


THE    ATTACK   AXD   ITS   RESULTS.  65 

"  I  hope  your  courage  won't  be  tested ;  but  in  case 
we  should  be  attacked,  please  to  observe  what  I  say, 
for  you  are  under  my  charge — you  must  fall  to  the 
rear  ;  and  if  there  are  too  many  for  us,  you  must  make 
Selim  show  his  heels,  and  ride  directly  back  to  Mrs. 
Adams." 

"  I'll  have  two  shots  at  them  any  how,  before  I  do 
start.  But  what  would  Patsy  say  if  I  was  to  leave 
you,  and  what  message  should  I  give  her  ?"  and  she 
peered  in  his  face  with  an  expression  which  brought 
the  blood  to  his  cheeks. 

"  Never  mind  Patsy,"  he  replied,  resuming  his  com- 
posure, "  I  would  rather  speak  to  you  than  of  her,  a 
thousand  times." 

Again  she  fixed  her  searching  eyes  on  him  ;  !><it  this 
time  he  not  only  met  her  glance  unabashed,  but 
returned  it  with  such  interest,  it  was  now  her  turn  to 
blush — for  there  was  an  intensity  of  admiration  in  his 
look  which  she  could  not  fail  to  interpret.  "  I  don't 
believe  you,  major,"  she  said,  at  the  same  time  touch- 
ing  Selim  slightly  with  her  whip,  causing  him  to  spring 
forward  some  yards  ahead  of  her  escort,  who,  however, 
quickly  joined  her,  and  for  a  few  moments  thvy  rode  in 
silence.  During  these  few  moments,  both  were  revolv- 
ing in  their  minds  the  words  and  looks  of  the  past 
minute. 

Margaret  saw  in  the  young  officer,  who  had  already 
earned  such  fame,  one  whom  any  woman  might  be 


64  MAEGABET   MONCRIEFFE. 

proud  to  win.  He  was  young,  handsome,  distin- 
guished, and  held  already  a  high  post  of  honor  and 
confidence,  and  her  heart  acknowledged  his  vast  supe- 
riority in  everything  pertaining  to  a  gentleman  and 
soldier,  over  any  she  had  ever  met.  On  his  part,  he 
saw  a  lovely,  dashing,  fearless  girl,  very  beautiful,  very 
fascinating,  polished  and  refined  in  her  manners,  and 
well  fitted  by  birth,  manner,  and  education,  young  as 
she  was,  for  any  position.  The  contrast  between  the 
high-born  girl  by  his  side,  and  the  truthful,  but  unedu- 
cated Patsy,  was  so  great,  Margaret  could  not  but 
gain  by  the  comparison.  He  thought  what  a  wife  she 
would  make,  and  he  determined,  in  forgetfulness  of  all 
he  had  said  to  Patsy,  and  heedless  of  the  pangs  which 
his  faithlessness  would  cause  her,  to  make  the  effort  to 
win  this  paragon. 

Strange  to  say,  neither  of  them  for  a  moment  gave 
thought  to  the  gulf  which  separated  them.  She,  the 
daughter  of  a  British  officer — he,  her  father's  enemy 
by  choice  and  principle.  It  was  a  case  of  decided  and 
roost  desperate  love  at  first  sight ;  and  each,  unknown 
to  the  other,  had  succumbed  to  the  influence  of  the 
little  blind  God  who  rules  the  world. 

"  I  was  not  jesting,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  said  the  major 
after  this  brief  silence,  which  led  to  such  a  momentous 
result,  "  when  I  spoke  about  the  Cow-boys,"  and  he 
epoke  with  deep  earnestness. 

"  Nor  was  I,  when  I  spoke  about  my  pistols  and 


THE   ATTACK   AND   ITS   RESULTS.  65 

Selim,"  she  said,  smilingly.  "  You  don't  know  what  a 
girl  can  do  until  she  is  compelled  to.  I  have  smelled 
gunpowder  before,"  she  added,  with  a  bright,  merry 
laugh.  "  I  practise  with  my  pistols  every  day,  and. 
would  shoot  even  with  you  for  a  wager." 

*'  And  I  would  not  with  you,"  said  the  major  ;  "  you 
would  be  sure  to  win  in  anything  you  undertake,  and 
it  is  never  allowed  to  bet  on  a  certainty,"  and  he  bent 
on  her  an  admiring  and  searching  glance. 

"  Perhaps  you  would  let  me  win,"  she  said,  archly, 
returning  his  glance  with  one  so  full  of  expression,  it 
brought  the  blood  to  his  face. 

"  I  could  not  help  myself,  I  am  sure,"  he  added,  with 
deep  earnestness ;  "  you  always  win  when  you  choose." 

"  Not  always,  I  am  afraid,"  she  said,  with  a  half 
sigh,  and  she  glanced  at  him  timidly ;  and  as  she 
caught  his  eye  fixed  intently  on  her,  she  averted  her 
head,  so  that  he  could  not  discover  the  blush  which 
crimsoned  her  cheeks,  called  there  by  her  own  words. 

"  With  me  you  would  be  sure  ;  for,  although  I  am  a 
soldier,  I  would  surrender  to  you  without  an  effort  at 
resistance." 

"  Would  you,  indeed  ?"  she  said,  turning  to  him,  a 
bright  sunny  smile  illumining  her  face,  which,  ani- 
mated as  it  was,  presented  as  lovely  a  picture  as  a 
lover  or  painter  ever  gazed  upon. 

"  Upon  my  honor,  Miss  Margaret,  as  a  soldier  and  a 
gentleman,  I  would." 


60  MARGARET  MOXCBIEFFB. 

"How  am  I  to  take  you,  major?"  she  added,  half 
archly,  though  her  countenance,  as  she  spoke,  wore  ah 
expression  of  earnestness,  very  little  in  unison  with  her 
light  and  trifling  manner. 

"  In  any  manner  you  choose,  only  take  me,"  he  said, 
with  a  glance  of  the  most  profound  admiration,  and  he 
fixed  upon  her  a  look  which  spoke  the  intensity  of  the 
feelings  which  animated  him,  for  he  was  fairly  treiti- 
bling  with  emotion. 

"  There's  my  hand  on  that  bargain,"  and  the  same 
bright  smile  which  had  conquered  him,  lighted  up  her 
beautiful  face.  "  Henceforth  you  are  my  prisoner." 

"  Forever,  and  gladly ;"  and  the  delicate  hand  was 
seized  by  the  impassioned  and  conquered  soldier. 
"  Yours  ever,  yours  only,  only  keep  me."  And  thus, 
in  these  few  moments,  and  in  such  few  words,  were 
settled  the  destinies  of  two  just  entering  upon  life. 

Major  Burr,  who  had  won  imperishable  renown  by 
his  coolness  and  bravery,  on  every  occasion,  when 
either  had  been  called  forth ;  who  had  passed  waist- 
deep  through  the  snow  to  attack  the  frowning  fortress 
of  Quebec  ;  who,  when  the  chance  shot  fired  by  a 
sailor,  carried  death  and  desolation  into  the  ranks  of 
the  Americans ;  when  a  hasty  retreat  was  ordered  by 
the  one  who  should  have  led  them  to  a  renewed 
attack  with  the  certainty  of  success,  refused  to  leave 
his  beloved  commander  who  lay  cold  in  death,  but 
staggered  through  the  snow,  bearing  his  precious  bur 


THE   ATTACK    AXD   ITS   KESULTS.  61 

deri  on  bis  youthful  shoulders  ;  he,  the  intrepid  soldier, 
surrendered  at  the  first  summons  of  the  enemy  whom 
few  have  ever  successfully  resisted — Love. 

Every  thought,  feeling,  and  emotion  of  which  he 
was  capable  had,  within  the  acquaintance  of  a  few 
short  hours,  been  surrendered  to  the  fascination  and. 
beauty  of  one  who  well  knew  how  to  use  both,  and 
who,  equally  with  himself,  was  conquered,  though  she 
was  not  so  ready  to  surrender.  And  she,  accustomed 
as  she  was  to  flattery  and  adulation — conscious  of  her 
own  powers — she  too  yielded  to  the  common  enemy, 
even  while  she  had  claimed  the  victory  and  her  pri- 
soner, though  she  almost  dreaded  to  acknowledge  it. 

Neither  had  spoken  one  word  of  love ;  but  as  be- 
tween each  other  words  were  needless  ;  for  under  the 
guise  of  playfulness  there  lurked  a  depth  and  strength 
of  feeling  of  which  each  was  conscious,  and  each  felt 
that  the  other  loved. 

Poor  Patsy !  little  did  she  dream  how  her  destiny 
had  been  affected  in  the  few  hours  which  had  inter- 
vened between  the  arrival  and  departure  of  him  to 
whom  every  feeling  of  an  earnest,  honest,  truthful 
woman's  heart  had  been  given — but  not  unsought. 

When  Major  Burr  released  the  tiny  hand  held  out 
to  him  in  consummation  of  his  surrender,  he  looked 
long  and  earnestly  in  the  glowing  face  of  his  lovely 
companion,  and  in  the  calm  but  truthful  gaze  with 
which  sl-e  met  his  glance,  ^e  read  their  mutual  hapo* 


68  MARGARET  MONCBIEFFE. 

ness ;  and  not  another  word  was  spoken  by  either  from 
that  moment  on  the  subject  nearest  and  dearest  to 
both  their  hearts. 

"  Now,  Margaret,"  said  the  major  (he  felt  familiar), 
"  I  was  very  earnest  when  I  spoke  of  those  rascally 
Cow-boys.  If  they  have  received  information  of  my 
intended  journey  hither — and  I  should  not  be  sur- 
prised if  they  had,  ibr  our  city  is  full  of  villainous 
Tories  and  spies— they  will  surely  attempt  to  intercept 
us." 

"  And  for  what  earthly  object,  major  ?"  asked  Mar- 
garet,  looking  intently  at  him. 

"  To  hang  me ;  and  as  for*  you  " 

"  I  understand,"  she  said,  anticipating  his  sentence, 
and  biting  her  lips  till  the  blood  almost  started  from 
them.  "  But  I  will  keep  one  of  these,"  and  she 
pointed  to  her  pistols,  "  for  my  own  use — the  other 
they  shall  have." 

Major  Burr  gazed  upon  the  beautiful  speaker  with 
looks  of  the  most  intense  affection,  and  wondered 
inwardly  how  one  so  young,  so  frail,  so  delicately 
brought  up,  could  be  so  fearless ;  but  her  words  and 
actions  only  endeared  her  more  to  him. 

"  Now,  Margaret,  remember  my  orders,"  and  he 
emphasized  the  word.  "  I  am  your  commander  in  this 
at'air— you  are  mine  in  all  else.  Should  those  wretches 
attack  us,  do  you  remain  in  the  rear,  and  if  worsted, 
ycu  must  fly  for  your  life." 


THE   ATTACK   AND   ITS   RESULTS.  69 

'*  And  leave  you,  Aaron  ?"  she  said,  tenderly,  and  a 
tear  moistened  her  eye.  "  I  won't ;"  and  the  heroic 
spirit  which  animated  her,  spoke  through  her  eyes, 
from  which  the  tear  departed  almost  as  soon  as  it  had 
come,  at  the  thought  of  danger  to  him  she  loved. 
"Yes,"  she  repeated,  as  Major  Burr  actually  stared 
at  her  in  astonishment  at  hearing  such  words,  "  I 
won't — commander  or  no  commander — I  won't  leave 
you." 

"  Disobedience  of  orders  is  punishable  with  death, 
Margaret,"  he  said,  smilingly. 

"  And  desertion,  too,"  she  added,  looking  archly  at 
him  ;  "  would  you  subject  me  to  that  ?" 

"  Then  you  enlist  with  me  ?" 

Whatever  answer  she  might  have  made,  was  cut 
short  by  the  sudden  halting  of  the  two  troopers  ahead, 
and  this  movement  having  been  caught  by  the  quick 
eye  of  the  young  soldier,  he  left  Margeret's  side  and 
galloped  to  the  front. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  he  inquired  of  Graham,  one  of  the 
two  who  had  ridden  on  as  the  advance  guard. 

"  I  think  I  saw  some  one  moving  in  the  woods 
yonder,"  and  he  pointed  to  a  spot  where  the  roada 
diverged,  one  leading  to  Ramapo,  and  the  other  to 
Orange. 

"  I  will  ride  on  and  see,"  said  the  major ;  and  as  he 
spoke  he  drew  the  reins  tighter,  and  was  in  the  act  of 
putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  when  a  flash  and  a  report, 


VO  MA'UGARET   HOXCRIEFFE. 

beard  and  seen  almost  simultaneously,  proceeded  from 
the  spot  toward  which  the  trooper  had  pointed. 

By  this  time  the  other  men  had  galloped  up  to  the 
«pot  where  their  leader  stood,  and  awaited  his  orders. 

"  I  am  badly  hurt,"  said  Graham ;  and  as  he  spoke, 
he  leaned  on  one  side  and  slid  from  his  horse,  falling 
heavily  to  the  ground. 

*You  are  hit,  major,"  said  Hickey,  addressing  his 
commander,  as  he  saw  the  blood  streaming  down  his 
Duff  breeches. 

"  Not  much,  I  think.  It  won't  do  to  give  them  a 
chance  for  another  shot.  Draw  your  pistols,  men,  and 
ibrward !"  and  with  one  glance  to  the  rear  to  see  if 
Margaret  had  obeyed  his  directions,  he  galloped  for- 
ward, pistol  in  hand. 

As  they  neared  the  woods  whence  the  firing  had  pro- 
ceeded, another  volley  was  discharged,  and  Hickey  with 
a  muttered  curse,  exclaimed  : 

"  Curse  'em,  I've  got  it  too ;  go  in  boys,  kill  the 
cursed  cowards!"  And  the  party  dashed  to  the  edge 
of  the  woods ;  from  which  there  rushed,  in  a  compact 
body,  a  dozen  or  fourteen  rough  looking  ruffians,  dressed 
in  every  variety  of  costume,  and  each  armed  with  a 
musket  or  fowling-piece. 

As  the  small  party  of  Continentals  caught  the  sight, 
they  discharged  their  pistols  with  such  effect  that  five 
of  them  dropped  to  the  earth;  then  thi-owing  a^vay 
their  pistols,  they  drew  their  svords,  and  charged. 


THE   ATTACK.   AND   ITS   RESULTS.  71 

But  the  Cow-boys — for  it  was  a  party  of  these  scourges 
—anticipating  this  movement,  met  them  with  a  volley 
from  their  muskets  and  fowling-pieces,  which,  fortu- 
nately, did  no  damage  except  to  maim  one  of  the 
horses,  so  as  to  render  him  useless  ;  but  his  rider  dis- 
mounting, advanced  as  rapidly  as  he  could  on  foot, 
sword  in  hand.  For  a  few  moments,  a  hand-to-hand 
fight  occurred  on  the  edge  of  the  wood,  the  troopers 
using  their  heavy  cavalry  swords,  and  their  assailants 
clubbing  their  muskets  and  fowling-pieces.  Four  of 
the  Cow-boys  were  either  sabred,  or  so  injured  as  to  be 
unable  to  do  any  further  mischief,  and  the  remainder 
finding  themselves  unequally  matched,  took  refuge  in 
the  woods,  where  they  knew  the  mounted  men  could 
not,  or  would  not  follow  them. 

Major  Burr's  men  were  intent  upon  putting  to  death 
all  of  their  assailants  who  still  lived,  but  he  forbade 
this  inhumanity,  and  ordering  his  men  to  dismount,  di- 
rected them  to  examine  into  their  condition. 

Three  were  stone  dead  ;  four  desperately  wounded, 
either  by  pistol-ball  or  sabre,  and  the  remainder,  though 
slightly  injured,  were  etill  unable  to  escape.  "  I  hate 
leaving  these  infernal  scoundrels  here,  they  may  do 
more  mischief;  but  I  must,"  said  Major  Burr,  address- 
ing his  men,  who  stood  about  him  awaiting  his  further 
orders. 

As  he  spoke  those  words,  a  shot  from  the  rear  at- 
tracted hi*  attention,  and  wheeling  his  licrse  quick  as 


72  MARGARET  MOSTCRIEFFB. 

lightning,  he  plunged  the  spurs  into  his  sides,  and 
dashed  forward.  A  loud  scream  from  the  quarter 
whence  the  shot  had  proceeded,  sent  every  drop  of 
blood  to  his  heart ;  and  with  every  pore  reeking  with 
perspiration,  drawn  forth  by  the  agony  caused  by  that 
sound,  he  dashed  on ;  and  as  he  turned  the  curve  in  the 
road,  which  had  thus  far  hidden  Margaret  from  his 
sight,  he  saw  her  struggling  in  the  arms  of  one  of  the 
ruffians,  two  of  whom  had  made  a  short  detour  of  the 
woods,  and  had  come  upon  her  suddenly  as  she  sat  on 
her  horse,  listening  anxiously  to  the  sounds  of  the  mus- 
kets and  pistols,  and  the  clashing  of  the  sabres,  as  they 
Btruck  the  assailants'  weapons. 

Quick  as  thought,  she  levelled  a  pistol,  which  she  had 
drawn  from  its  holster  at  the  moment  of  the  first  firing, 
and  as  one  of  them  neared  her,  she  discharged  its  con- 
tents full  in  his  face.  The  ball  struck  him  in  the  throat, 
and  he  fell  to  the  earth  with  a  groan  and  a  curse.  Be- 
fore she  could  detach  the  other  weapon  from  its  holster, 
the  second  ruffian  was  upon  her,  and  seizing  her  by  the 
arm  essayed  to  drag  her  from  the  saddle. 

It  was  then,  for  the  first  time,  she  uttered  any  sound, 
and  the  wild  scream  of  terror  which  issued  from  her 
lips,  had  been  heard  by  her  newly- won  lover.  Bef  "-e 
he  could  reach  the  spot  where  this  most  unequal  con- 
flict was  going  on,  Margaret,  who  bad  resisted  with 
her  utmost  strength,  aided  by  Selim,  who  reared,  and 
pranced,  and  wheeled  in  his  efforts  to  free  his  bridle 


THE   ATTACK   AND   ITS   RESULTS.  19 

from  the  hold  of  the  ruffian  who  was  assailing  his 
young  mistress — had  been  dragged  from  her  seat,  and 
the  fellow  was  bearing  her,  struggling  and  screaming 
toward  the  woods. 

But  Major  Burr  had  seen  enough  to  arouse  all  his  en- 
ergy, and  to  inspire  him  with  the  courage  of  despera- 
tion, and  spurring  his  horse  forward,  he  caught  the 
ruffian  by  the  cravat,  and  being  too  near  to  use  the 
blade  of  his  sword,  dashed  the  hilt  into  his  eyes  with 
a  force  that  drove  them  from  their  sockets,  and  he 
fell  senseless  to  the  ground,  his  arm  still  clasping  the 
waist  of  the  now  fainting  girl.  Springing  from 
his  horse,  Major  Burr,  forgetting,  in  the  intensity 
of  his  passion,  that  a  helpless  foe  lay  before  him, 
brought  down  his  sabre  with  a  force  which  sent  it 
crashing  through  his  skull,  and  ne  rolled  over, 
dead. 

Releasing  the  almost  inanimate  form  of  Margaret, 
wrhose  clothes  were  covered  with  the  blood  and  brains 
of  the  dead  ruffian,  he  strove,  by  every  endearing  epi- 
thet and  caress,  to  recall  her  to  consciousness.  In  a 
few  moments  his  men  came  galloping  to  the  spot,  and 
seeing  their  commander  seated  on  the  greensward, 
holding  the  senseless  form  of  their  charge  in  his  arms, 
their  rage  was  unbounded. 

"  Your  flask,  any  of  you,"  he  said,  as  they  approached, 
and  three  or  four  rough  apologies  for  flasks  were 
handed  him,  by  as  many  willing  hands. 


74  MAn«ARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

As  he  was  unwilling  that  any  one  should  be  present 
when  Margaret  returned  to  consciousness,  he  directed 
his  men  to  scour  the  road,  as  well  in  the  rear  as  for- 
ward, and  he  would  attend  to  the  lady,  an  order  which 
was  most  cheerfully  obeyed ;  for  every  man  was  anx- 
ious to  have  another  chance  at  these  lawless  ruffians, 
who  were  the  terror  only  of  the  innocent  and  defence- 
less, and  who  never  made  an  attack  under  equal  cir- 
cumstances. 

A  little  rum  poured  down  Margaret's  throat,  brought 
her  to  partial  consciousness,  and  opening  her  eyes  lan- 
guidly, she  met  the  gaze  of  Major  Burr  fixed  on  her 
with  an  intensity  of  anguish  which  went  to  her  very 
soul,  and  feeble  as  she  yet  was  from  affright,  she  smiled 
on  him,  and  gently  pressed  the  hand  which  held  her 
own 

"  I  am  not  hurt  at  all,  Aaron,"  she  said,  in  feeble 
tones,  after  another  interval  of  a  few  moments.  "  I 
will  be  myself  directly ;  but  that  ruffian  did  frighten 
me." 

".No  wonder,  Margaret,  no  wonder.  But  are  you 
sure  you  are  not  hurt?  Who  fired  that  shot  ?" 

"  Look  in  the  road,  Aaron.  I  told  you  I  was  sure 
of  one ;  but  before  I  could  draw  the  other  pistol,  that 
man  seized  my  arm.  Bless  you,  Aaron,  dear  Aaron  !" 
she  added,  as  she  still  reclined  in  his  arms,  looking  up 
in  his  face  with  an  expression  of  gratitude  and  affec- 
tion ;  and  Major  Burr,  unable  to  control  himself  as 


THE   ATTACK   AITO   ITS   RESULTS.  75 

lie  heard  those  words,  and  met  that  look,  bent  down 
and  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  her  not  unwilling  lips; 
and  thus  was  sealed  their  untold  pledge  oi  mutual 
love. 


CHAPTER  VH. 

THE  ROYALISTS   PLOTTING. 

WE  left  Corbie  and  Forbes  closing  the  house  of  tl  • 
former  after  the  departure  of  the  guests,  and  this  don^, 
Corbie  filled  two  glasses,  and  drawing  a  chair  to  the  tablu 
•on  which  Forbes  had  already  planted  himself,  said : 

"  I  wonder  what,  in  the  name  of  all  that's  bad,  the/ 
want  of  Hickey  ?" 

"  Oh,  don't  borrow  trouble,  Corbie ;  it  will  come 
fast  enough  if  this  is  found  out.  I  tell  you  it  can't  be 
anything  that  concerns  us,  or  Drake  never  would  have 
been  so  open  about  it.  No,  no ;  so  far  so  well.  I  won- 
der what's  the  next  move  ?" 

"  Perhaps  we  shall  know  to-night.  Do  you  think  the 
colonel  will  come  up  in  such  a  storm  ?" 

"  Storm — why  it's  just  the  thing  for  him.  The  boat 
can't  be  seen  ten  feet  off  shore,  and  I  don't  believe  the 
sentinels  care  overmuch  for  being  out  in  the  rain. 
Not  a  bit  of  it ;  they  are  hid  away  in  some  of  the 
groves  along  the  shore,  and  the  rain  and  wind  to- 
gether would  drown  any  ordinary  sound  ;  besid-  /»,  tfco 
boat's  oars  are  always  muffled." 


THE   ROYALISTS   PLOTTmG.  77 

"  How  many  have  we  now,  Forbes  ?"  said  Corbie, 
lowering  his  voice  almost  to  a  whisper. 

"  Besides  our  own  people,  not  over  three  score  ;  and  T 
don't  think  they'll  be  worth  the  money  I've  paid  foi 
them,  except  Hickey.  He's  worth  the  whole  of  'em 
put  together." 

"As  how,  Forbes?" 

"  Why,  he  sees  and  hears  everything  that  goes  on 
yonder,"  and  he  pointed  with  his  thumb  over  his 
shoulder  toward  the  location  of  the  commander-in- 
chief 's  head-quarters ;  "  and  he  ain't-  afraid  to  tell  it, 
either." 

"We  want  some  more  of  them  fellows,"  continued 
Corbie,  sipping  his  liquor,  and  laying  down  the  glass 
with  an  air  of  satisfaction. 

"We'll  have  thflm  yet,  never  fear.  Five  guineas 
down,  and  the  two  hundred  acres,  is  rather  too  much 
for  men  who  haven't  seen  a  hard  dollar  for  three 
months,  and  ain't  likely  to  see  one  for  as  many  to 
come.  Blanchard  is  on  the  lookout,  too,  and  he'll  pick 
out  the  right  men,  I'll  warrant  you." 

"  I'd  like  to  get  hold  of  that  Gray,  the  cursed  rebel," 
said  Corbie,  placing  his  hand  to  his  throat  in  evident 
remembrance  of  the  gripe  he  had  felt  there  a  few 
moments  before,  "  I'd  pay  him  off,  or  my  name's  not 
Corbie ;"  and  as  if  aroused  to  some  desperate  resolve 
by  the  recollection,  he  swallowed  the  remaining  con- 
tents of  his  glass  at  one  gulp,  an  example  which  -was 


78  MA&GARET  MONCKIEFFE. 

followed  by  his  companion,  who,  placing  his  glass  on 
the  table,  with  an  emphatic  gesture,  added: 

"  I  want  to  see  the  whole  t.roop  of  infernal  rebels 
strung  up  at  once.  I'd  dance  over  their  graves  with 
pleasure.  Hark !" 

A  low  rap  at  the  side  door  of  the  room  in  which  they 
were  seated  was  distinctly  heard,  and  when  thrice  re- 
peated, Corbie  went  to  the  door,  and  without  parley 
or  hesitation,  opened  it,  saying,  as  he  did  so.  "  Walk 
in — all  clear,"  a  summons  which  was  answered  by  the 
entrance  of  a  short,  but  well-knit  man  of  some  forty  sum- 
mers, dressed  in  dark  blue  sailor  clothes  from  head  to 
foot,  and  with  a  countenance  so  swarthy,  he  might, 
without  offence,  have  been  taken  for  a  mulatto, 
or  more  probably  some  sun-burnt  sea-faring  man, 
which  last  impression  was  fully  warranted  by  his 
attire. 

It  was  Colonel  Fanning,  who,  by  dint  of  hard  service 
in  India,  under  its  broiling  sun,  had  won  his  colonelcy  and 
the  liver  complaint,  and  was  now  sent  out  to  this  conn- 
try  to  win  fresher  laurels  or  a  soldier's  grave.  His 
regiment  was  stationed  on  Staten  Island,  but  he  had 
been  selected  by  Governor  Tryon,  then  on  board  the 
"Divhoss  of  Gordon,"  the  flag-ship  of  the  British  fleet 
then  lying  opposite  the  island,  as  the  most  competent 
officer  to  whom  he  might  intrust  the  weighty  matters 
then  in  hand  between  himself  and  the  royalists  in  the 
tity,  in  furtherance  of  the  measures  which,  if  successful, 


THE   KOYALISTS  PLOTTING.  79 

it  was  conceived  would  put  a  sudden  end  to  the  war, 
and  crush  out  the  rebellion. 

"  Good  evening,  colonel,"  said  the  landlord,  touching 
his  forehead  with  a  military  salute,  which,  as  well  as  a 
similar  movement  on  the  part  of  Forbes,  he  acknow- 
ledged by  a  slight  bow,  and  a  smile  which  showed,  in 
striking  contrast  to  his  swarthy  face,  his  pearly  teeth. 

"  It  is  a  shocking  night  for  some  people,  but  fine 
weather  for  his  majesty." 

The  door  was  quickly  locked  and  barred,  and  the 
colonel,  motioning  Forbes  to  a  chair,  threw  himself  into 
one  himself. 

"  You  are  wet  through,  colonel ;  let  me  give  you 
something  to  drive  the  cold  out  of  you — I  have  some 
glorious  old  south  side,  you  know,"  said  Corbie. 
"  May  I  venture  to  offer  you  a  suit  of  dry  clothes,"  he 
added,  respectfully,  almost  reverentially. 

"  No,  thank  you,  for  I  must  return  immediately." 
said  the  colonel,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand;  "but  I 
won't  refuse  your  south  side,  for  I  know  it  is  good ;" 
and  the  loyal  landlord,  taking  one  of  the  candles  from 
the  table,  went  behind  the  bar,  and  opening  a  secret 
trap  which  led  to  the  cellar,  descended  to  procure  the 
highly-praised  wine  for  the  drenched  and  tired  officer. 

"  "Well,  Forbes,  how  goes  it  ?"  he  inquired,  as  he 
drew  from  his  breast  pocket  a  packet  of  papers,  the 
outer  envelope  of  which  was  nearly  destroyed  by  the 
rain  which  had  been  pouring  down  in  torrents  for  so 


80  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

long  a  time.  "  This  for  the  excellent  mayor,  and  " — as 
he  spoke,  he  drew  forth  a  smaller  letter  directed  to 
Forbes  himself — "  this  for  you." 

Forbes,  with  a  low  bow,  took  the  extended  letter 
with  an  air  of  unbounded  respect,  and,  without  wait- 
ing for  excuses,  tore  it  open  hastily  and  devoured  its 
contents  eagerly. 

It  ran  thus : 

"  Ox  BOARD  DCCHESS  or  GOBDOI,  ) 
"JuneM,  17T6.  J 

"Mr  TRUSTY  FBIEND: 

"  I  am  exceeding  pleased  at  the  success  which  has 
attended  yonr  efforts  and  those  of  the  friends  to  the  cause  of 
His  Most  Gracious  Majesty  in  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
which  I  shall  take  pleasure  in  communicating  to  Lord  Ger 
maine,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  embrace  the  earliest 
opportunity  of  expressing  his  satisfaction  with  your  conduct. 
The  package  herewith  must  reach  the  honorable  mayor  with- 
out delay.  It  is  essential  that  we  should  secure  the  services 
of  some  party  near  the  person  of  General  Putnam,  now  that 
General  Washington  is  in  Philadelphia;  and  we  hereby 
intrust  you  with  full  power  to  render  such  service  to  our 
glorious  cause.  Colonel  Fanning  will  hand  you  the  one  hundred 
and  fifty  guineas,  for  which  you  called  in  your  last,  and  for 
which  you  will  receipt. 

"Mr.  Corbie's  services  are  duly  appreciated;  but  I  wwb 
you  to  caution  him  against  permitting  the  assemblage  of  too 
many  of  our  friends  at  his  house,  as  it  may  excite  suspicion 
and  defeat  our  plans,  which  God  forbid,  for  the  sake  of  out 
most  gracious  King. 

""WILLIAM 


THE   EOYAI.ISTS    PLOTTING.  81 

By  the  time  Forbes  had  finished  the  perusal  of  this 
letter,  which  had  occupied  him  some  minutes,  for 
Governor  Tryon  was  a  notoriously  bad  penman  and 
Forbes  a  worse  scholar,  Corbie  had  returned  from  the 
cellar,  bearing  in  one  hand  a  bottle  covered  with  dust, 
and  in  the  other  the  light,  which  had  enabled  him  to 
drag  it  from  its  hiding-place. 

"  That's  the  same  seal,  colonel,"  he  said,  laying  both 
on  the  table,  and,  producing  a  cork-screw,  he  drew  the 
cork,  and  placing  a  glass  before  his  guest,  turned  to 
Forbes,  who  still  held  Governor  Tryon's  letter  in  his 
hand. 

"That's  partly  for  you,  Corbie— read  it,"  said 
Forbes,  his  face  glowing  with  pleasure,  and  he  thrust 
the  letter  into  the  hands  of  the  burly  landlord,  who 
commenced  its  perusal  with  a  very  wry  face,  for  he 
was  even  more  illiterate  than  Forbes ;  and  while  he 
was  thus  engaged,  Colonel  Fanning  had  managed  to 
get  down  three  or  four  glasses  of  the  generous  wine 
which  had  been  placed  before  him,  and  which  was, 
indeed,  worthy  of  all  the  praise  Corbie  had  bestowed 
on  it. 

"  God  bless  his  majesty  and  prosper  his  cause,"  said 
Corbie,  earnestly,  for  he  was  as  thoroughly  loyal  as 
any  king  could  wish.  "  Halloa !"  he  exclaimed, 
"  what's  that  ?"  as  the  sound  of  a  body  falling  heavily 
was  heard  in  the  next  room.  "Who,  in  the  devil's 
name's  there  ?"  *nd,  snatching  a  light,  he  started  foi 
4* 


82  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

the  door,  but  was  withheld  by  a  forcible  grasp  from 
Colonel  Fanning,  who  had  seized  his  arm  and  held  him 
back. 

"  Hist — wait  a  moment,"  he  said,  "  I  must  be  off 
first.  Here,  Forbes,"  and  he  handed  the  gunsmith  a 
small  bag  ;  "  his  excellency  requested  me  to  hand  that 
to  you.  Have  you  nothing  to  send  ?" 

"  Nothing  for  his  excellency,  to-day,  colonel ;  every- 
thing is  going  on  well,"  and,  holding  up  the  bag  which 
contained  the  promised  guineas,  which  was  to  pay  for 
treason  and  desertion,  he  said  :  "  With  this  we  can  do 
anything.  There's  something  in  that  sound,"  and  he 
nhook  them  till  they  jingled  again  and  again,  as  if  the 
very  sound  conferred  happiness,  "which  these  half- 
starved  and  poorly-paid  rebels  can't  resist.  Say  to  hia 
excellency,  if  you  please,  that  we  shall  not  relax  any 
effort  to  carry  out  every  operation  he  may  devise,  nor 
hesitate  at  any  cost  to  prove  our  devotion  to  his  most 
glorious  majesty." 

"  Now,  then,  I'm  off.  Corbie,  my  fine  fellow,  that's 
glorious  wine,"  said  the  colonel,  rising  from  the  table. 

"  Finish  it,  colonel — finish  it ;  you  have  a  long  pull 
and  a  stormy  night  before  you.  God  bless  his  majesty 
and  give  him  many  more  faithful  servants  like  your 
honor,"  said  Corbie,  enthusiastically,  for  he  was,  in- 
deed, a  most  devoted  loyalist. 

"  Amen,"  said  the  colonel,  draining  glass  after  glass, 
mtil  he  had  emptied  the  bottle ;  "  and  now,  then* 


THE   ROYALISTS   PLOTTING.  83 

good-night  all.  I  don't  know  .when  I  shall  return  ; 
but  when  I  do,  I  hope  to  hear  good  news  from  our 
trusty  friends  here ;"  and  seizing  his  cap,  the  gallant 
colonel  strode  forth  into  the  storm,  and  the  door  was 
again  securely  barred  and  bolted  by  the  loyal  land. 
lord. 


CHAPTER  Vlll. 

A.     NEW     EECEUIT. 

« Now,  then,"  said  Corbie,  seizing  one  of  the  can- 
dies  which  stood  on  the  table,  and  proceeding  toward 
the  door  whence  the  sound  issued  which  had  disturbed 
them  a  few  moments  before,  "  let  us  see  what  this 
means ;"  and  followed  by  Forbes,  he  opened  the  door 
which  led  into  the  adjoining  apartment. 

"  Come,  who's  here  ?"  exclaimed  Corbie,  holding  the 
light  over  his  head,  so  that  its  beams  illumined  the 
whole  apartment. 

"  Hang  it,  don't  stop  to  ask  questions,"  said  Forbes, 
advancing  to  the  centre  of  the  room,  and  peering  about 
with  his  keen,  grey  eyes.  "  Ah !  there  he  is,"  and  ad- 
vancing toward  a  large  mahogany  table  which  stood 
between  the  windows,  under  a  large  mahogany-framed 
mirror,  he  raised  one  of  the  leaves,  and,  sure  enough,. 
there,  he  was. 

"  Come  out  of  that,  my  fine  fellow,  and  let  us  see 
who  you  are,"  and,  as  he  spoke,  he  put  his  hand  down, 
and  seizing  a  huge  booted  leg,  which  half  projected 
from  the  table,  drew  forth  a  stalwart  man,  dressed  in 


•  A   NEW  RECRtjTT.  85 

the  uniform  of  the  Life-guards,  who,  as  soon  as  his  body 
was  free  from  the  table,  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  stood 
gazing  about  him  in  amazement. 

"  Well,  Barnes,"  said  Corbie,  who  knew  the  man 
well,  for  he  was  one  of  his  regular  customers,  "  wliat 
on  earth  took  you  in  there  ?*'  and,  as  he  spoke,  he 
turned  toward  Forbes  with  an  anxious  glance  of  in- 
quiry, which  almost  said,  "  I  wonder  if  he  has  over- 
heard us ;  if  he  has,  I'll  cut  his  throat." 

"Fact  is,  Corbie,"  said  the  soldier,  now  released 
from  the  grasp  of  the  gunsmith,  and  stepping  backward 
with  an  unsteady  motion,  "I  drank  a  leetle  too  much, 
and  I  thought  I  would  hide  away,  and  sleep  it  off  afore 
tattoo.  Has  it  beat  yet  ?" 

"  More  than  an  hour  ago,"  said  Corbie,  who  saw,  at 
a  glance,  the  advantage  he  had  over  his  man,  and  who 
was  so  familiar  with  all  phases  of  drunkenness,  he  knew 
there  was  no  pretence  in  his  case.  "  Everybody's  gone 
long  ago.  You're  in  for  thirty-six,  sure  as  as  your 
name's  Barnes." 

"  Sure  enough,"  replied  the  soldier,  and  he  rubbed 
his  shoulders,  as  if  he  already  felt  the  lashes  on  his 
quivering  flesh.  "  Well,  what  can't  be  cured  must  be 
endured,  and  I  suppose  I  must  take  'em,  as  many  bet- 
tor men  have  done  before  me." 

"  Do  you  know  the  sergeant  was  here,  about  an  hour 
ago,  looking  for  you?"  asked  Corbie,  desirous  of  try- 
ing the  effect  upon  Barnes  of  such  a  statement. 


88  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  Sure  ?"  asked  the  soldier,  now  thoroughly  sobered, 
and  conscious  of  the  position  in  which  he  had  placed 
himself. 

"  Sure  as  your  name's  Barnes.'* 

"  You  didn't  tell  him  I  was  here,  did  you,  Corbie  ?» 
he  asked,  half  anxiously,  half  sullenly. 

"  I  told  him  you  had  been  here,  but  I  thought  you 
had  gone  back  to  the  barracks,  and  so  he  left." 

"  Thank  you  for  that,  anyhow.  Thii-ty-six !  I  BWOW 
that's  too  bad  for  a  small  offence  like  this.  Why 
don't  they  hang  a  fellow  at  once,  and  have  it  all  done 
with." 

"  Yes,  and  well  laid  on  at  that,"  added  Corbie,  pur- 
suing his  advantage.  "You  know  Green  is  no  baby 
when  he  gets  the  cat  in  his  hand,  and  I  rather  guess  he 
was  made  drummer  especially  for  that." 

"  Well,  I  might  as  well  make  up  my  mind  to  it.  I 
Bee  it's  got  to  come ;  but  it's  cursed  hard  anyhow.  I 
wonder  if  your  side  treats  men  so." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  What !  tie  a  man  up  and  whip 
him,  in  the  presence  of  his  comrades,  for  a  little  spree ! 
Why,  it  would  raise  a  mutiny  at  once,  and  half  the 
men  would  desert.  Oh,  no — they  don't  do  things  in 
that  way  on  our  side,  and  that's  the  reason  our  men 
never  desert.  Plenty  to  eat  and  drink,  and  sure  pay, 
and  sure  promotion  when  it  is  earned.  A  day  or  two 
in  the  guard-house,  and  low  diet,  is  quite  cure  enough 
for  a  small  drunk  •  but  the  idea  of  whipping  a  grown 


A   JTETW   RECRUIT.  b/ 

man  like  you.  I'm  blessed  if  I  wouldn't  kill  the  fellow 
that  dared  to  put  the  lash  on  me  !" 

"  I'm  cursed  if  any  lash  touches  my  back,  anyhow, 
now  mark  niy  words.  I  know  just  what  I  shall  get 
when  I  go  back  to  barracks ;  but  when  they  whip  me, 
it  will  do  Green  good.  I'll  clear  out,  and  take  my 
chances  outside.  If  they  catch  me,  they  can  but  shoot 
me,  and  that  will  be  better  than  being  flogged." 

"Why,  man,  you  can't  leave  the  island.  You  are 
crazy ;  every  inch  of  the  shore  is  guarded,  and  a  boat 
can't  even  land  without  permission." 

"  Sure  enough,  and  I  ain't  got  no  boat.  Come,  Cor- 
bie, give  us  some  more  rum,  and  I'll  go  in  and  give 
myself  up." 

"I  can  tell  you  an  easier  way  than  that,"  said 
Forbes,  with  earnestness,  and  he  looked  meaningly  in 
Barnes'  face. 

"As  how,  Gilbert?"  queried  the  now  thoroughly 
sobered  guardsman,  for  he  knew  the  gunsmith  very 
well. 

"  Perhaps  you  know  what  these  are,"  and  the  gun- 
smith held  before  the  eyes  of  the  guardsman  a  handful 
of  guineas,  which  he  rattled  one  against  the  other. 

"  I  have  seen  such  things  before,"  replied  Barnes, 
his  eyes  fairly  glistening  at  the  sight  of  so  much 
money — more  than  he  had  ever  seen  at  once  in  his 
life-timo. 

"  F        -)f  them  for  bounty,  sure  pay,  plenty  to  eat, 


88  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

and  no  flogging  for  a  little  spree ;  and  besides  that,  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  when  the  war  is  over,  for  every 
man,  one  hundred,  if  he's  married,  for  his  wife,  and 
fifty  for  every  child.  Eh,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ? 
and  you  haven't  seen  ten  silver  dollars  since  you 
'listed." 

"  Give  me  them  guineas,"  exclaimed  the  guardsman, 
stretching  out  his  hand,  for  while  his  manhood  shrunk 
at  the  idea  of  being  publicly  flogged,  his  sense  of  honor 
was  not  so  strong  as  to  prevent  him  from  desiring  to 
escape  that  degrading  punishment  by  the  more  dis- 
graceful one  of  desertion  and  treason.  "  I'd  serve 
the  devil  sooner  than  be  stripped  and  flogged  be- 
fore the  whole  corps.  So  hand  over,  and  I'm  your 
man." 

"  Softly,  Barnes ;  you  are  almost  too  willing,"  replied 
Forbes,  who,  though  now  sure  of  his  man,  was  deter- 
mined to  test  him  thoroughly.  "  You  know,  if  you 
'list  with  us,  and  are  caught " 

"Why,  they'll  hang  or  shoot  me;  anything  you 
choose  but  a  flogging.  I  never  was  flogged,  and  I 
never  will  be,  so  help  me  " 

"  You  will  be,  if  you  go  to  the  barracks  to-night  or 
to-morrow." 

"  I  don't  mean  to  go  there,  boys.  I'll  take  to  the 
woods,  and  stand  my  chances,  if  you  don't  want  me  ; 
but  I'm  d — d  if  I'm  going  to  be  flogged  because  I 
drank  a  glass  too  inu<!h> 


A   XEW   BECETttT.  89 

<(  Well,  then,  Barnes,  if  you  will  join  us  I'm  ready 
with  your  bounty,"  and  he  jingled  the  guineas,  which 
Bounded  temptingly  in  the  ear  of  the  poorly  paid 
guardsman,  now  thoroughly  aroused  to  any  deed,  no 
matter  how  dark  or  desperate,  so  he  escaped  the 
dreaded  flogging.  "  We  don't  want  you  to  desert,  but 
if  you  choose  you  can  join  us,  and  I'll  guarantee  yon 
shan't  be  flogged." 

"  I'll  join  the  devil,  I  tell  you,  sooner  than  b« 
flogged,"  and  to  add  emphasis  to  his  words,  he 
brought  his  huge  fist  on  the  table  with  a  force  which 
made  the  room  ring  again. 

"  Then  take  the  oath  I  shall  give  you,  and  the 
guineas  are  yours." 

"  Out  with  it,"  said  Barnes,  doggedly.  "  I'm  ready 
for  anything  but  a  flogging." 

Being  thus  assured,  Corbie,  at  Forbes'  request,  pro- 
duced a  Bible,  and  Barnes  was  sworn  "by  the  most 
solemn  and  terrible  oath,  not  to  reveal  any  secret  in- 
trusted to  him,  on  pain  of  having  his  tongue  cut  from 
his  mouth,  but  to  aid  those  whom  he  had  joined  in  any 
manner  which  might  be  demanded  of  him,  at  all  times 
and  under  any  circumstances,  and  without  regard  to 
consequences. 

"  N  ow,  then,  Barnes,  you  belong  to  us,"  said  Forbes. 
"  Here  is  your  bounty,"  and  he  placed  the  price  of  his 
treason  in  his  hands.  *'  You  are  under  full  pay  from 
to-night.  Ten  shillings  a  week,  you  know,  and  when 


00  MAROAKET  MOXCMEFFB. 

this  cursed  rebellion  is  crushed,  two  hundred  acres  of 
land  are  yours,  anywhere  you  choose  to  select." 

"  But  how  about  that  flogging  ;  I  must  go  back  to 
the  barracks,"  said  Barnes,  putting  the  price  of  his  trea- 
son in  his  pocket. 

"  Go,  stand  out  in  the  rain  a  few  minutes,  till  you  get 
wet  through,"  said  Forbes,  moving  toward  the  bar- 
room ;  and  at  a  sign  from  him,  Corbie  opened  the  door 
through  which  the  colonel  had  passed,  and  Barnes 
stepped  out,  as  he  was  commanded. 

A  very  few  moments  sufficed  to  drench  him  tho- 
roughly, and  he  reentered  the  room,  dripping  like  a 
water  dog. 

"  Now,  then,  what  next  ?"  he  asked,  as  he  stood 
there,  the  water  fairly  running  from  him. 

"  A  glass  of  rum  is  next,  I  think,"  said  Corbie,  laugh- 
ing, as  he  went  behind  the  bar,  and  pouring  a  tumbler 
two-thirds  full  of  rum,  handed  it  to  the  new  recruit, 
who  tossed  it  off  with  evident  relish,  and  without 
making  a  single  wry  face. 

"  Now,  then,  for  the  rest." 

"  Just  take  me  by  the  collar,  and  drag  me  to  the 
guard-house,"  said  Corbie.  "  Say,  that  after  everybody 
had  left,  you  saw  me  go  out  and  start  down  toward  the 
water ;  that  you  followed  me,  and  heard  a  boat  ap- 
proach the  shore,  and  that  when  you  challenged,  it  went 
back  again,  and  you  arrested  me." 

"  And  what  are  you  going  to  say  ?"   queried  the 


A  NEW   RBCSU1T.  91 

guardsman,  who  liked  this  part  of  the  arrangement 
well  enough,  but  could  not  discover  how  it  would 
benefit  him,  or  save  him  from  the  much-dreaded 
flogging. 

"  Leave  that  to  me  ;  nothing  to  compromise  either 
of  us ;  let  me  alone  for  that." 

Barnes  did  as  he  was  bid.  and  appeared  before  the 
officer  of  the  guard,  on  duty,  with  his  prisoner, 
narrating  the  adventure  precisely  as  he  had  been  in- 
structed. 

".I  thought  it  very  strange,  Barnes,  that  you  did  not 
come  at  tattoo,  but  you  have  done  well.  Now,  Cor- 
bie, what  is  this  ?"  asked  the  lieutenant  on  duty  for 
the  night. 

"Only  a  little  bit  of  a  smuggle,"  he  said,  doffing  his 
cap  as  soon  as  Barnes  loosed  his  hold  on  his  collar. 
"  You  see,  I  have  been  expecting  a  lot  of  prime  Jamai- 
ca, ever  so  long,  from — no  matter  where — but  as  I  knew 
that  your  friends  wouldn't  let  it  come,  without  taking 
toll,  I  made  arrangements  to  shove  it ;  and  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  that  'ere  spooney,"  and  he  looked  at  Barnes 
as  if  he  would  annihilate  him,  "  I'd  a  had  it  long  ago  ; 
but  he  must  go  and  poke  his  nose  in  what  don't  concern 
him.  It  was  real  prime,  too,  I  tell  you,  lieutenant," 
added  Corbie,  with  a  very  slight  wink ;  for  he  knew 
his  man,  who  was  one  of  his  best,  though  sly,  custo- 
mers, and  was  fond  of  the  "  prime  article"  ac  any  man 
in  the  corps. 


92  MARGARET  MOKCRIEFFE. 

"Well,  Corbie,  you  had  better  go  home,  and  try  and 
get  your  Jamaica  like  an  honest  man.  It  won't  do  you 
any  harm  to  try  a  little  honest  dealing,  by  the  way  of 
variety.  Barnes,"  he  said,  turning  to  the  guardsman 
—whose  delight  at  this  unexpected  termination  of  his 
anticipated  troubles  could  scarcely  'be  concealed — "  you 
acted  perfectly  right ;  but,  I  guess  Corbie  was  not  do- 
ing anything  Worse  than  that." 

"  On  my  honor,  no,  lieutenant,"  said  the  wily  land- 
lord, who  saw  that  his  wink  had  been  rightly  inter- 
preted, laying  his  brawny  hand  over  the  place  where  the 
heart  was  supposed  to  be,  and  as  he  spoke,  he  made  a 
low  bow. 

"  You  can  go,  then,"  said  the  officer,  condescend- 
ingly. 

"  I  told  you  so,  you  blasted  fool,"  said  Corbie,  turn- 
ing angrily  to  Barnes,  but  with  a  glance  which  seemed 
to  say,  "  I  told  you  I  would  save  you  from  a  flogging, 
and  I  have  done  it." 

"  Well,  you  did,"  replied  the  traitor,  glad  enough  at 
his  relief  from  a  flogging,  to  forget  the  means  by  wluch 
he  had  escaped  from  well-merited  punishment. 

"All  right,"  said  Corbie,  barring  and  locking  the 
door,  as  he  ree'ntered  his  house,  and  was  greeted  by 
the  impatient  Forbes,  with  the  emphatic  inquiry: 
"tVell!" 

"  There's  another  good  one.  We've  got  him  as  fast  at» 
oaths  and  fears  can  secure  him ;  and  a  few  mdre  like  him, 


A  NEW   RECRUIT.  98 

down  there  at  old  Putnam's,  would  make  short  work 
of  the  whole  matter.  Who  the  devil  can  I  get  at  down 
there?  The  colonel  says  his  excellency  wants  some 
one  there,  and  he  must  be  found." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE   AT   HOME. 

"  Yotr  are  wounded,"  said  Margaret,  rising  f rom  th« 
arms  of  Major  Burr,  as  she  heard  the  sound  of  ap- 
proaching horses'  feet,  and  perceived  the  blood-stain 
on  his  leg. 

"  Oh,  it's  nothing — a  mere  scratch  !  it  does  not  even 
pain  me ;  and  if  it  did,  I  should  forget  the  pain  in  my 
happiness  at  seeing  you  unharmed." 

"  Thanks  to  you,  major,"  she  said,  smiling  sweetly 
"  Bat  come,  let  us  proceed ;  who  knows  what  we  may 
meet  next  ?  One  moment,"  and  she  advanced  toward 
Selim,  who  had  remained  standing  still  from  the  mo- 
ment Margaret  had  been  dragged  from  her  seat.  As 
she  moved  toward  him,  she  was  obliged  to  pass  the 
body  of  the  man  who  had  met  his  death  at  her  hands, 
as  it  lay  weltering  in  a  pool  of  blood  ;  and  as  she  did 
so,  she  stopped  for  an  instant,  and,  gazing  at  the  fright- 
ful wound  made  in  his  throat  by  her  ball,  turned  with 
a  triumphant  expression  to  the  major,  and  said :  "  It 
wasn't  a  bad  shot  for  a  frightened  girl,  was  it,  m* 
jor  P» 

04 


MARGAKET   MONCKIEFFE   AT   HOME.  95 

"  It  was  good  for  a  brave  man,  Margaret.  You  are 
worthy  of  a  better  fate  than  I " 

"  There,  now — please  don't,"  she  interrupted  ;  "  you 
have  said  enough  for  to-day,  and  I  have  said  much 
more  than  I  ought.  Let  me  load  my  pistol,"  she 
added,  stopping  to  pick  up  the  weapon  which  she  had 
dropped  when  she  had  fired  it,  and,  feeling  in  tho 
pocket  of  her  riding-dress,  she  drew  forth  a  small  flahk 
of  powder.  The  pistol  was  carefully  loaded  and 
primed,  and,  having  placed  it  in  the  holster,  she  turned 
to  the  major,  who  had  watched  her  movements  with 
looks  of  affectionate  interest,  and  said  :  "  Come,  help 
me  to  mount — I  am  ready." 

While  she  had  been  thus  engaged,  the  escort  had 
rejoined  their  leader,  and  stood  around  watching  the 
brave  and  beautiful  girl  with  admiring  eyes,  comment- 
ing upon  her  courage  and  beauty  in  whispered  tones. 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  gratefully  obliged  to  all  of  you," 
she  said,  looking  around  the  group  and  smiling 
sweetly  ;  "  I  did  the  best  I  could,"  and  she  pointed  to 
the  corpse  lying  in  the  road. 

The  men  looked  at  her  and  each  other  in  amazement, 
for  until  now,  they  knew  not  the  part  she  had  taken  in 
the  action,  or,  rather,  skirmish  ;  and  from  that  moment 
they  looked  upon  her  almost  with  veneration. 

She  was  assisted  into  the  saddle  by  Major  Burr. 
One  of  the  two  wounded  men  having  been  placed  before, 
on  a  norsf  in  front  of  one  of  his  comrades,  and  Hickev 


96  MABGABET   MONCEIEFFB. 

declaring  himself  perfectly  able  to  do  more  fighting 
for  such  a  brave  little  woman,  mounting  his  own  horse, 
the  party  moved  on  in  the  same  order  as  they  had 
started,  leaving  the  dead  to  take  care  of  the  dead,  and 
the  wounded  to  get  along  as  they  best  could. 

Paulus  Hook  was  reached  without  any  further 
adventure,  and  without  a  recurrence  on  the  part  of 
Major  Burr  or  Margaret  to  the  topic  which  most 
closely  interested  both  ;  for  her  request  was  command 
to  the  young  and  enamored  soldier. 

Only  once,  and  that  was  as  he  was  handing  her  on 
board  the  bateau  which  was  to  convey  the  horses  and 
their  riders  across  the  river,  did  he  allude  to  the 
subject  of  their  new-born  love,  and  only  then  because 
he  thought  he  perceived  a  shade  of  sadness  on  the 
beautiful  face  of  his  companion. 

"  You  do  not  repent  having  said  what  you  have, 
Hargaret  ?"  he  asked,  tenderly,  looking  in  her  lustrous 
eyes,  whose  expression  was  now  wonderfully  softened. 

"  Oh,  no,  no !"  she  replied,  with  deep  earnestness, 
"  I  am  very,  very  happy,  and  you  " 

"  I  cannot  describe  my  feelings.  I  can  only  from 
my  heart  say  I  thank  and  bless  you,  my  own  dear,  best, 
and  only  beloved." 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  Major  Burr,  having  dis- 
missed his  escort  at  the  New  York  side  of  the  ferry, 
conducted  Margaret  into  the  presence  of  General  Put- 
nam and  his  family,  who  had  just  risen  from  their 


MA.K3ARET   MONCRIEFFE   AT   HOME.  97 

evening  meal,  and  she  was  received  by  the  ladies  with 
an  honest  warmth  and  cordiality,  which  actually 
brought  tears  to  her  eyes ;  and  with  the  impulse  so 
natural  to  her,  and  which  she  could  not  control,  she 
threw  herself  into  a  high-backed  chair,  and  gave 
vent  to  her  overcharged  feelings  in  a  burst  of  hearty 
tears. 

u  Come,  come,  child !"  said  the  blunt  old  general, 
approaching  and  taking  one  of  her  hands  within  his 
own,  while  he  placed  the  other  on  her  head,  "  don't 
fret  about  it — it  is  the  fortune  of  war.  Your  father  I 
know  to  be  a  gallant  gentleman  and  an  honorable 
soldier,  and  you  may  feel  just  as  much  at  home  in  my 
house  as  if  you  were  with  him.  Mayn't  she,  ma  ?" 
and  he  turned  to  his  wife,  who  had  marked  the  advent 
of  this  new  member  of  her  family  with  decided  in- 
terest, for  there  was  that  in  her  youth,  beauty,  and 
isolated  situation,  which  commended  her  to  that  sym- 
pathy which  woman  never  withholds  from  any  one  in 
distress. 

"Be  sure,  what  a  question  to  ask.  Come,  child, 
wipe  your  eyes,  you  won't  feel  lonesome  in  a  day  or 
two.  My  daughters  here  will  find  something  for  you 
to  do,  and  that  will  keep  you  from  thinking.  Why, 
Major  Burr,  what  on  earth  is  the  matter  with  your 
leg  ?  See,  girls,  it's  all  bloody." 

"  What's  all  this,  Burr  ?"  exclaimed  the  general,  now 
for  the  first  time  noticing  that  which  had  attracted  hi« 
5 


98  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

wife's  attention,  and  he  pointed  to  the  blood-stained 
clothes  of  his  handsome  young  aid,  to  whom  he  had 
already  grown  strongly  attached. 

"  Only  a  little  skirmish  with  those  rascally  Cow- 
boys," was  the  reply  of  Major  Burr,  who,  in  the  ex- 
citement of  the  journey,  had  quite  forgotten  his 
wound.  "  Graham  and  Hickey  were  slightly  hurt  ;  but 
we  beat  them  off,  and  left  five  dead,  and  as  for  the 
rest,  I  am  afraid  they  stand  a  poor  chance  for  a  verv 
long  life.  But,  general,"  and  his  eye  kindled  as  he 
turned  to  Margaret,  who  was  trying  to  dry  her  tears, 
an  operation  in  wrhich  she  was  materially  assisted 
by  the  general's  daughters,  who,  kneeling  on  either 
side  of  her,  with  true  girlish  sympathy,  were  speak- 
ing low  words  of  hope  and  comfort,  **  you  ought 
to  have  seen  Miss  Moncrieffe  then.  She  brought 
down  one  of  the  villains  with  a  ball  through  his 
throat,  as  neatly  and  coolly  as  you  could  have  done  it 
yourself." 

"  She !"  echoed  mother  and  daughters,  while  the 
general  turned  to  Margaret  and  gazed  upon  her  for  an 
instant  with  an  expression  of  admiration,  for  he  did 
honor  to  true  courage  whether  in  man  or  woman.  "  She 
shot  a  man,  major  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  if  she  could  have  reached  her  other  pis- 
tol in  time,  she  would  have  shot  two  of  them." 

"  How  did  it  happen  ?  Where  ?  When  ?»  the  trio 
of  females  exclaimed  in  a  breath. 


MARGARET   MOXCEIEFFE   AT   HOME.  99 

"  Some  other  time  I  will  tell  you ;  or,  perhaps,  yon 
nad  better  ask  Miss  Moncrieffe  herself." 

"  Miss  Moncrieffe,  can  only  say,"  said  Margaret,  ris- 
ing, and  Aviping  the  tears  from  her  eyes,  "  that  she 
owes  her  life,  and  more  than  her  life,  to  the  promptness 
and  courage  of  Major  Burr,  and  he  knows  how  grate- 
ful she  is." 

These  latter  words  were  accompanied  with  a  look 
which  spoke  volumes  to  the  young  soldier,  who  turning 
away  to  conceal  the  color  which  her  words,  and  her 
expression,  as  she  uttered  them,  had  called  to  his  face, 
asked  if  Doctor  Haxton  was  in  his  room,  and  without 
waiting  for  a  reply,  left  the  apartment,  in  search  of  the 
surgeon  to  dress  his  wound,  which  was  as  he  said, 
truly,  quite  slight. 

In  three  days  from  her  first  introduction  into  the 
family  of  the  worthy  old  general,  Margaret  Moncrieffe 
had  won  all  hearts,  by  her  vivacity,  her  endless  sallies 
of  wit  and  humor,  her  unfailing  store  of  anecdote,  in- 
cident and  adventure,  her  reckless,  free,  frank,  open- 
hearted  speech  and  manners,  combined  with  an  artless- 
ness  and  simplicity,  which  rendered  her  perfectly  irre- 
sistible. 

General  Putnam  had  been  christened  "  grandpa,"  to 
which  he  submitted  with  a  bad  grace,  at  first,  but  even- 
tually, with  a  smile  which  he  could  not  conceal.  Mrs, 
Putnam  was  "  my  lady,"  and  the  girls  were  "  cousins 
Bell,  and  Mattie." 


TOO  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

She  managed  to  have  her  own  way  in  everything. 
As  for  spinmng,  the  daily  occupation  of  the  family,  she 
had  never  taarned  it,  and  she  was  too  old  now  (at  fif- 
teen) to  begm.  She  could  embroider,  and  she  would, 
if  "  grandpa"  should  ask  her  very  politely,  sew  on  but- 
tons. She  would  sit  in  the  room  with  the  family  for 
hours,  with  her  embroidery  frame  on  her  lap,  and  keep 
them  in  a  continued  strain  of  laughter,  by  her  wit,  her 
anecdotes,  or  h<jr  actions ;  in  the  latter  of  which  she 
was  a  perfect  romping  child,  when  unrestrained  by  the 
forms  of  society. 

She  had  coaxed  the  general  to  let  her  give  Selim  an 
airing  every  day,  "  as  the  poor  brute  would  suffer,"  she 
pleaded,  pathetically, "  if  he  did  not  have  his  regular  ex- 
ercise ;"  and  then  by  the  way  of  added  inducement, 
she  promised  he  should  have  the  occasional  use  of  him, 
if  he  would  pledge  his  word  he  should  not  be  shot  in 
action. 

There  was  no  resisting  her  I  She  fairly  carried  all 
hearts  by  storm  ;  and  already,  as  rumors  of  an  invasion 
began  to  fly  thick  and  fast,  they  were  thinking  of  the 
possibility  of  losing  her  charming  society,  which  had 
almost  changed  the  character  of  their  home. 

Favored  by  the  permission  granted  by  General  Put- 
nam, she  rode  out  on  the  fourth  day  of  her  arrival  in 
the  city,  in  company  with  Major  Burr,  who  had  been 
ordered  1  D  make  a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  works  in 
[;rogress  in  various  parts  of  the  island ;  and  as  there 


MABGAKMP   MOXCKIEFFE   AT   HOME.  101 

was,  on  that  occasion,  no  ban  upon  the  topic  of  the 
ride  from  Elizabethtown,  it  was  renewed  by  both,  and 
with  an  earnestness  and  freedom,  which  showed  how 
deeply  the  hearts  of  both  were  engrossed  by  their  mu- 
tual love. 

Margaret  appeared  to  be  deeply  interested  in  the 
operations  of  the  men  on  the  breastworks,  which  they 
visited  in  the  course  of  their  ride  ;  and  once  or  twice, 
she  drew  upon  her  a  searching  glance  from  her  com- 
panion, by  the  singularity  and  pertinency  of  the  ques- 
tions she  asked.  She  saw  everything,  noted  every 
thing  ;  and  on  their  return,  she  locked  herself  in  the 
apartment  occupied  by  her,  and  amused  herself  by  not- 
ing down  carefully,  and  accurately,  in  detail,  all  she  had 
seen  and  heard  during  the  ride;  except  such  portion 
of  the  conversation  as  was  directly  connected  with  her- 
self. These  were  recorded  in  ineffaceable  characters  on 
the  tablet  of  her  heart. 

As  aid  to  the  commander-in-chief  (for  General  Wash- 
ington had  not,  as  yet,  returned  from  Philadelphia, 
and  General  Putnam  was  in  full  command),  Major  Burr 
was,  of  course,  a  personage  of  high  importance,  and  his 
movements  were  watched  with  close  scrutiny,  by  all 
the  officers  in  the  city.  His  companion,  whose  first  ap- 
pearance had  that  day  been  made  in  public,  had  been 
noticed  by  many,  on  this  first  ride,  and  particularly  by 
Colonel  Sbee,  commanding  one  of  the  four  Pennsylva- 
nia battalions,  who  embrace :l  the  first  opportunity  to 


102  MA.IIG.VRET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

inquire  of  Major  Burr,  who  she  was,  and  where^  on 
earth,  he  had  discovered  such  a  lovely  girl. 

"  A  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  was  the  reply ;  "  daughter  of 
a  British  officer,  now  camped  on  Staten  Island ;  and  for 
the  present,  a  member  of  General  Putnam's  family." 

"  Burr,  bring  her  to  our  ball  to-morrow  night ;  she 
will  be  the  brightest  star  there.  Do,  that's  a  good  fel- 
low !  You  know  we're  awfully  short  of  pretty  girls, 
and  the  whole  corps  will  send  you  a  vote  of  thanks." 

"  I  am  sure  I  shah1  be  proud  to  escort  her,"  said  the 
young  aid,  laughing,  "  but  some  of  your  dashing  young- 
sters will  be  losing  their  hearts.  She  is  as  witty  and 
polished  as  she  is  beautiful,  but  she  is  an  awful  little 
Royalist." 

"  Royalist  be  hanged !  She's  a  woman,  and  a  pretty 
one,  at  that;  so  bring  her  along,  and  if  she  insists 
upon  it,  she  shall  drink  the  king's  health ;  we  are  not 
fighting  with  women.  The  general's  daughters  are 
coming;  two  of  our  fellows  engaged  them  a  week 
ago.  So  do  you  bring  your  little  Tory ;  will  you, 
Burr  ?» 

"  If  she  will  come,  surely,  and  with  pleasure ;  but  I 
warn  you,  she  will  speak  just  as  she  thinks." 

"  Let  her  speak  what  she  chooses,  so  long  as  she  looks 

BO  sweetly  on  me,  as  she  did Faith,  no,  I  won't 

'finish  that  sentence.  Burr,  you  are  a  lucky  dog;  I 
wish  I  was  old  Put's  aid  for  a  little  while." 

"  Well,  five  me  your  commission,  colonel,"  said  the 


MARGAIsET   MONCRIEFFE   AT    HOME.  103 

major,  laughing,  "  and  you  may  have  mine,  and  my 
position  with  it." 

"  What,  and  your  chances  with  the  handsome  little 
Tory  ?" 

"  Of  course !  I  want  more  active  service,"  replied 
the  major,  for  he  could  not  say  anything  else  without 
committing  himself;  though,  as  he  spoke,  his  heart 
emote  him  for  allowing  Margaret  to  be  spoken  of  in 
such  a  trifling  manner,  and  he  turned  away  to  conceal 
the  flush  which  had  been  called  to  his  cheeks  by  this 
conversation. 


CHAPTER  X. 

AN     OLD     FRIEND. 

THE  threatened  invasion  of  the  British,  by  land  and 
sea,  concerning  which  rumors  had  been  flying  thick 
and  fast  for  many  weeks,  bad  driven  from  the  city 
most  of  the  best  families,  and,  in  consequence,  the 
wives  of  the  generals  and  other  officers  quartered 
there  were  constrained  to  rely  on  each  other  for  soci- 
ety and  such  amusement  as  they  could  invent,  for  the 
time  passed  heavily  on  them. 

Among  the  troops  quartered  in  the  city,  were  four 
battalions  of  troops  from  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by 
Colonels  Shee,  McGaw,  St.  Clair,  and  Wayne,  and 
officered  by  scions  of  the  most  wealthy  and  aristo- 
cratic families  of  the  commonwealth.  They  had  joined 
the  army  from  motives  of  the  purest  patriotism,  and 
without  a  thought  as  to  any  merely  personal  benefit, 
save  such  as  might  accrue  to  the  whole  country  from 
a  recognition  of  its  independence  from  Great  Britain. 

While,  therefore,  ever  ready  for  any  duty,  and 
equally  ready  to  meet  any  foe,  they  felt  that  the  time 
could  be  passed  much  more  pleasantly  than  by  watch- 
ing and  waiting  for  an  enemy.  They  had  accordingly 


~X    OLD    FRIEXD.  "105 

arranged  a  series  of  balls  and  entertainments,  which 
were  given  alternately  at  the  head-quarters  of  the  dif- 
ferent colonels,  who  were  all  men  of  high  position  and 
large  wealth,  and  every  lady  in  the  city  was  anxious  to 
be  invited  on  those  occasions. 

The  generals,  anxious  to  propitiate  the  troops  from 
every  section,  made  it  a  point  of  honor  to  attend  each 
ball  or  party  with  their  families,  and  these  weekly  re- 
unions were  looked  upon  by  all  as  a  most  agreeable 
means  of  dispelling  the  ennui  attendant  upon  garrison 
life. 

It  was  to  the  ball  given  by  Colonel  Shee  to  which 
Major  Burr  had  been  requested  to  invite  Margaret,  an 
invitation  which  she  accepted  most  joyfully,  for  when 
she  heard  the  general's  daughters  talking  about  it,  and 
saw  them  arranging  the  little  details  of  their  modest 
toilettes  for  the  occasion,  she  had  wished  that  she 
might  not  be  left  alone.  The  invitation,  therefore, 
from  him  whom  her  heart  acknowledged  as  its  master, 
was  joyfully  accepted,  and  her  pleasure  was  heightened 
by  the  fact  that  he  was  to  be  her  escort. 

Colonel  Shee,  at  that  period,  occupied  a  large  man- 
sion on  Broadway,  near  the  spot  where  the  Astor 
House  now  stands.  The  lower  part  of  the  building, 
on  this  occasion,  was  devoted  to  dancing,  the  second 
floor  to  card-playing  and  the  punch-room — and  without 
ftn  attempt  at  going  into  details,  it  is  sufficient  to  say 
that  everything  which  lavish  expenditure  could  pro- 
5* 


105  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

cure,  in  view  of  the  means  at  hand,  for  luxuries  were 
rather  rare,  was  provided  to  contribute  to  the  pleasure 
of  the  guests. 

The  entrance  of  Margaret,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  her 
handsome  escort,  who  was  dressed  in  full  uniform,  was 
greeted  with  a  buzz  of  admiration  from  the  gentlemen 
(for  Colonel  Shee  had  boasted  so  much  of  her  beauty, 
every  one  was  anxious  to  test  his  judgment  by  his  own 
standard)  and  by  looks  of  jealousy  from  the  ladies,  for 
she  was  incomparably  the  most  lovely  woman  or  girl 
in  the  room. 

Robed  in  simple  white,  without  one  single  ornament, 
her  glossy  hair  flowing  in  graceful  ringlets  over  her 
snowy  neck  and  shoulders,  her  countenance  faultlessly 
beautiful,  animated  as  well  by  the  scene  as  by  the  pre- 
sence of  him  to  whom  she  had  given  her  first  affections, 
she  might  well  challenge  the  admiration  which  she 
commanded. 

Colonel  Shee  was  among  the  first  to  notice  her  en' 
trance,  and  apologizing  to  a  group  of  ladies  with  whom 
he  had  been  conversing,  he  hurried  toward  the  youth- 
ful  couple  on  whom  all  eyes  were  directed.  The  for- 
mality of  an  introduction  was  soon  accomplished,  and 
offering  his  arm,  the  colonel  gallantly  said : 

"  Major,  you  must  allow  me  to  rob  you  of  your  fair 
charge  for  a  short  time,  so  many  are  anxious  to  know 
her,  and  I  f.laim,  as  host,  the  privilege  of  presenting 
her.  Allovt  me  the  honor,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  and  he 


AN   OLD   FRIEND.  107 

bo\*  ed  low  as  she  took  his  proffered  arm,  not,  however, 
without  casting  a  glance  at  Major  Burr,  whose  mean 
ing  he  rightly  interpreted,  and  young  as  he  was,  he 
was  too  shrewd  to  say  or  do  anything  by  which  either 
might  be  compromised. 

Colonel  Shee  led  his  lovely  guest  toward  a  bevy  of 
officers  who  had,  from  her  first  entrance,  eyed  her  with 
looks  of  deep  admiration,  and  still  retaining  her  arm 
within  his  own,  introduced  her  to  them  severally. 
For  each  she  had  some  pleasant  or  witty  remark,  the 
piquancy  of  which  was  enhanced  by  her  manner,  and 
at  cnce  she  was  completely  surrounded,  each  one 
striving  to  outvie  the  other  in  the  fulsomeness  of  the 
compliments  he  wished  to  pay.  For  each  she  had 
some  happy  reply,  and  if  her  beauty  had  failed  to 
conquer,  her  wit  accomplished  what  that  had  left 
undone. 

"  I  declare,  colonel,"  she  said,  pointing  to  a  far  cor- 
ner of  the  room,  "  I  am  sure  I  see  a  familiar  face." 

"  Indeed,  and  where  ?"  inquired  the  colonel,  turning 
to  the  quarter  toward  which  her  eyes  were  directed. 
"  How  on  earth  can  any  face  here  be  familiar  to 
you  ?" 

"  That  tall  gentleman  in  plain  clothes,"  she  replied, 
pointing  to  the  person  of  whom  she  spoke. 

"Ah,  yes— that  is  Captain  Blan chard,  one  o^  your 
people,  by  the  way.  He  is  a  prisoner  on  parole  ;  but 
he  is  a  noble,  high-spirited  gentleman,  and  a  great 


108  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

favorite  with  all  of  us,  for  we  are  on  the  most  friendly 
terms." 

"Do  bring  him  here,  colonel,"  she  said,  eagerly. 
"Perhaps  he  has  seen  my  father  lately." 

"  Scarcely  lately,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  replied  the  colo- 
nel, with  a  faint  smile,  "he  has  been  with  us  over  three 
months.  But  if  you  desire,  I  will  bring  him  to  you." 

"  No,  I  will  go  to  him.  Oh,  how  pleasant  it  is  to 
see  a  familiar  face,  even  where  all  else  are  so  kind," 
she  added,  with  a  smile  so  bright  and  winning,  the  gal- 
lant colonel  forgot  the  first  portion  of  her  sentence. 

Making  way  through  the  crowd  of  admirers  who 
thronged  around  her,  Margaret,  leaning  upon  the  colo- 
nel's arm,  was  escorted  to  that  portion  of  the  apart- 
ment where  stood  the  gentleman  who  had  attracted  her 
attention,  and  whose  face  she  claimed  as  familiar  to  her. 

He  was  reclining  moodily  against  one  of  the  folding 
doors,  surveying  the  gay  scene  with  emotions  of  any- 
thing but  pleasure,  for  though  he  had  been  treated  with 
the  most  boundless  courtesy  and  hospitality  since  his 
capture,  he  longed  to  be  among  friends  with  whom  he  had 
closer  sympathies  than  those  who  surrounded  him.  At 
the  approach  of  Colonel  Shee,  he  raised  himself  from 
his  leaning  position,  and,  as  his  eye  caught  sight  of  his 
companion,  his  countenance  lighted  up  in  an  instant, 
and  a  new  life  seemed  to  be  infused  in  him. 

Advancing  with  outstretched  hand  he  exclaimed, 
"  You  here,  Miss  Moncriefie  ?" 


AN   OLD   FRIEND  109 

"Yes,  captain,  as  you  see,"  she  added,  gaily,  drop 
ping  the  colonel's  arm,  and  grasping  his  extended  hand 
"  and  you  are  here  too,  I  see." 

"Even  so,"  he  said,  as  a  shade  of  sadness  crossed 
his  features ;  "  the  chances  of  war  have  placed  me  here, 
but  I  won't  blame  them,  since  I  am  permitted  to  see 
the  loveliest " 

"  There,  don't  finish  that  sentence,  captain  ;  Colonel 
Shee,  here,  can  say  much  prettier  things  than  that,  I 
am  sure.  Can't  you,  colonel  ?"  and  she  looked  archly 
at  the  colonel. 

"  I  can  feel  them,  if  I  cannot  say  them,  Miss  Mon- 
crieffe,"  gallantly  replied  the  colonel,  with  a  bow. 

"  Xow,  colonel,  please  to  give  me  a  proof  of  your 
sincerity,  by  letting  me  have  my  own  way  for — let  me 
see — just  five  minutes.  Of  course,  you  must  dance 
with  me  ;  I  shall  be  honored  by  the  preference,"  and 
she  courtesied  gracefully,  at  the  same  time  giving  him 
a  glance  which  almost  bewitched  the  colonel,  whose 
admiration  for  the  fair  stranger  was  really  sincere. 
''Then,  of  course,  others  will  claim  the  same  privilege, 
and  as  you  are  the  host,  you  may  dispose  of  me  as  you 
choose  for  the  evening ;  of  course,  with  the  consent 
of  my  escort." 

"  If  I  could  dispose  of  you  as  I  choose,  you  would 
only  have  one  partner  this  evening,"  and  another  bow 
testified  the  colonel's  gallantry. 

"There,  Captain  Blanchard,"  she  said,  placing  her 


110  MARGARET   MOXCKIEFFK. 

arm  within  his  own,  "how  prettily  that  was  said. 
Why  don't  you  take  pattern  after  the  colonel,  and  pay 
your  compliments  more  delicately?  I  don't  want  to 
be  admired,  and  told  so  as  you  would  speak  of  a  horse." 

Captain  Blanchard  bit  his  lip,  to  conceal  the  rising 
laugh,  while  Colonel  Shee  turned  red  with  vexation, 
for  he  saw  the  young  vixen  was  amusing  herself  at  his 
expense. 

"  Come,  colonel,"  she  said,  seeing  the  change  in  his 
countenance,  "  let  me  have  Captain  Blanchard  five  min- 
utes, and  you  may  have  control  of  me  the  whole  of 
the  rest  of  the  evening — of  course,  Major  Burr  con- 
senting." 

"  I  agree  to  that,"  said  the  colonel,  gaily,  pulling  out 
his  watch.  "  Captain,  you  have  just  five  minutes,  so 
make  the  most  of  them,"  and  replacing  his  watch  iu 
his  fob,  he  moved  away,  leaving  Margaret  and  Captain 
Blanchard  alone. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?"  queried  the  captain, 
in  tones  so  low,  they  reached  no  ears  save  those  for 
whom  they  were  intended. 

"  I  am  residing  with  General  Putnam,  a  member  of 
his  family  at  present.  You  are  on  parole,  Colonel  Shee 
says." 

"  He  speaks  the  truth,  I  am  sorry  to  say." 

"  Are  you  doing  anything  for  the  king  ?"  she  askeJ 
earnestly,  looking  him  full  in  the  face  as  she  spoke. 

"  How  can  1  ?  situated  as  I  am,  Miss  Margaret !" 


AN   OLD   FEIEND.  Ill 

"That's  no  answer  to  my  question.  Time  is  pre- 
cious, and  'opportunity  rare ;  are  you  doing  anything 
for  your  king's  cause  ?" 

"  That's  a  very  singular  question  for  a  girl  to  ask  a 
soldier." 

"  And  that  is  a  very  ridiculous  answer  from  a  soldier 
to  the  loyal  daughter  of  a  loyal  subject." 

Captain  Blanchard  looked  steadily  at  the  beautiful, 
but  singular  being  who  hung  upon  his  arm,  but  she 
bore  his  gaze  unshrinkingly.  At  length,  seeming  to 
read  in  her  eyes  something  more  than  her  words  had 
made  intelligible,  he  answered  emphatically,  but  in  the 
same  low  tones : 

"  I  am." 

"  I  have  no  time  to  converse  with  you  now ;  there 
are  too  many  eyes  watching  us ;  you  must  call  on  me, 
at  the  general's.  You  have  that  privilege,  I  suppose," 
she  continued,  inquiringly. 

"Of  course,"  was  his  reply ;  "  unless  you  or  I  are 
suspected  of  being  " 

w  Hush !"  she  said,  hurriedly,  pressing  his  arm,  seeing 
a  bevy  of  young  officers  approaching  them.  "  Call  on 
me  to-morrow.  I  ride  out  every  day,  now,  by  permis- 
sion of  General  Putnam.  I  shall  ride  out  alone  when- 
ever I  can.  You  must  manage  to  see  me  whenever  you 
possibly  can.  I  leave  that  to  you.  Ah  !  gentlemen," 
she  continued,  in  gay  tones,  as  the  party  approached, 
"  time  is  up,  eh  I  "Well,  captain,  I  am  glad  to  have 


112  MAEGAEEl    MOXCRIEFFB. 

seen  an  old  friend.  Call  on  me,  will  you,  please  !  You 
know  where  to  find  me,  I  suppose.  Gentlemen,"  and 
she  turned  to  the  group  of  admirers  who  surrounded 
her,  "  there's  no  harm  in  my  receiving  a  visit  from  an 
old  friend,  I  hope,  though  we  are  both  sound  Royalists." 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  Colonel  Shee,  who  had  ap- 
proached unperceived,  from  another  quarter,  "  because 
we  expect  to  convert  you  to  our  cause  soon,  and  if  we 
can  gain  you  over  to  our  side,  we  shall  feel  secure  of 
victory." 

"Upon  my  word,  colonel,"  replied  Margaret,  gaily, 
moving  toward  him,  and  placing  her  arm  within  his 
own,  "  I  don't  know  how  I  shall  thank  you  for  youi 
appreciation  of  my  worth.  Come,  I  cannot  reply  to 
your  compliments,  but  I  will  dance  with  you  ;  will  that 
do  ?"  and  again  the  colonel  met  that  fascinating  smile. 

"I  am  more  than  honored,"  replied  the  gallant  colo- 
nel, as  he  ventured  a  gentle  pressure  upon  the  arm 
which  hung  upon  his  own. 

He  did  not  perceive  the  slight  curl  which  for  an  in- 
stant  rested  upon  the  lip  of  the  vivacious  beauty,  or  he 
might  not  have  marched  off  with  his  prize  so  proudly 
and  happily  as  he  did. 


CHAPTER  XL 

MARGARET   AND   HER   CONQUESTS. 

MARGARET  had  mixed  with  the  gay  assemblage  at 
least  two  hours,  and  had  been  surrounded  from  first  to 
last  by  a  bevy  of  admirers  and  flatterers.  During  all 
that  time  she  had  only  caught  an  occasional  glimpse  of 
Major  Burr,  who  had  stationed  himself  among  the 
elderly  ladies,  and  who  seemed  to  be  pleased  as  well  in 
this  society  as  though  he  had  joined  in  the  giddy 
throng  which  filled  the  spacious  apartments. 

Several  times  she  caught  his  look  fixed  upon  her 
ivith  an  expression  which  she  well  knew  how  to  inter- 
oret,  and  when,  pleading  with  absolute  truth,  down- 
right inability  to  dance  any  more,  for  the  present,  she 
was  conducted  to  the  coterie  among  which  the  major  had 
established  himself,  she  took  his  proffered  arm  with  a 
feeling  of  real  pleasure,  which  she  had  not  experienced 
during  the  whole  evening,  and  which  she  testified  by  a 
gentle  pressure  of  the  arm  which  held  her  own. 

"  Do,  Major  Burr,  take  me  where  I  can  get  some 
air,"  she  said,  beseechingly ;  "  I  am  almost  suffocated 
with  the  heat,  and  absolutely  wearied  with  dancing." 

The  young  soldier,  with  a  gallant  bow,  was  about 


114  MARUAEET   MOXCEIEFFE. 

moving  toward  a  door  which  led  upon  a  broad  piazza, 
when,  as  he  turned,  he  found  himself  confronted  by  a 
corps  of  general  officers,  who  were  approaching  him 
from  the  direction  of  the  door.  General  Greene  led 
the  van,  arm  in  arm  wHh  the  gallant  Lord  Stirling, 
and  the  rear  was  brought  up  by  Generals  Heath,  Sulli- 
van, Mifflin,  and  Spenc3v.  They  had  evidently  been 
engaged  in  private  converse,  for  even  as  they  ap- 
proached, their  wrords  were  uttered  to  each  other  in 
whispered  tones. 

"  How  now,  major  ?"  said  Lord  Stirling,  dropping 
the  arm  of  General  Greene,  and,  advancing  with  his 
most  courtly  bow,  "  who  have  we  here  ?" 

"  A  desperate  little  Tory,  my  lord,"  replied  Majoi 
Burr,  releasing,  as  he  spoke,  Maigaret's  arm  from  his 
own.  "  Miss  Moncrieffe,  the  daughter  of'* 

"  Oh,  yes ;  I  know  your  father  well,  my  child,"  he 
interrupted,  smiling  as  he  spoke,  and  he  extended  his 
hand  cordially.  "  It  was  my  fortune  once  to  make  a 
prisoner  of  him,  and  I  can  say,  with  truth,  I  was  very 
sorry  when  he  was  exchanged.  Pray  who  has  cap- 
tured you  ?" 

"  I  believe  I  belong  to  General  Putnam,"  she  added, 
as  she  saw  the  old  soldier  advancing  toward  the  circle 
by  which  she  was  surrounded,  and  as  room  was  made 
for  him,  she  added,  "  don't  I,  general  ?"  and  she  smiled 
naively  as  she  spoke. 

Now,   General    Putnam,   with   all    his  well-known 


MARGARET   AND   HEE   CONQUESTS.  115 

courage,  so  often  and  so  severely  tested,  was  particu- 
larly sensitive  to  ridicule,  and  when  he  observed  Mar- 
garet standing  in  the  niidst  of  the  circle  of  general 
officers,  he  feared  that  she  had  been  speaking  of  him 
by  the  pet  name  which  she  had  conferred  upon  him, 
and  which  he  had  permitted  because  he  could  not  help 
himself,  and  the  perspiration  actually  stood  on  the 
soldier's  brow  as  he  approached,  dreading  lest  he 
should  hear  himself  addressed  in  presence  of  his  com- 
peers by  his  new  title.  But  Margaret  was  too  well 
bred  to  use  such  familiarity  under  such  circum- 
stances as  now  surrounded  her,  and  as  he  caught 
the  last  words  of  her  sentence  only,  he  answered 
promptly : 

"  Of  course  you  do  ;"  for  he  was  so  glad  to  be  freed 
from  his  apprehensions  he  scarcely  thought  what  he 
Baid. 

"  Really,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  said  the  gallant  Mifiiin, 
"  I  should  like  to  enlist  you  in  our  cause.  To  judge 
by  the  havoc  you  made  to-night,  you  must  be  a  perfect 
Mars,  or  more  likely  the  Goddess  of  Victory.  What 
bounty  shall  we  pay  you  to  enlist  ?" 

"  Let  me  have  my  choice,"  she  said,  in  the  same  gay 
strain. 

"  Oh,  you  need  not  ask  his  permission  for  that, 
young  lady,"  said  General  Greene.  "Please  to  look 
around  and  make  your  own  selection — yours  may  be 
the  only  difficulty." 


110  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

Margaret,  glad  to  have  an  opportunity  of  turning 
upon  themselves  the  badinage  thus  addressed  to  her 
by  the  generals,  turned  her  head  very  leisurely  around, 
as  if  taking  a  survey  of  the  company  present,  and  as 
she  did  so,  her  eyes  met  those  of  Major  Burr,  fixed 
upon  her  with  anxious  scrutiny,  for  he  really  feared 
she  might  say  or  do  something  offensive.  She  re- 
turned his  glance  with  a  look  which  said,  as  plain  as 
words  could  speak,  "  My  choice  is  made,"  and  that 
look  reassured  him,  for  it  told  him  she  was  only  gain- 
ing  time  to  make  a  suitable  reply. 

He  replied  by  a  glance  of  equal  meaning  with  her 
own,  and,  after  scanning  the  assembled  company  for 
some  moments,  she  turned  suddenly  to  General  Put- 
nam, and,  putting  her  arm  within  his  own,  said,  gaily : 
"  I  don't  see  any  one  here  I  prefer  to  my  kind  friend 
and  host,  so  I  will  choose  him." 

The  good  old  general  actually  blushed,  as  Margaret 
thus  took  him  by  surprise  ;  but  his  astonishment  was 
heightened,  and  the  laughter  of  the  circle  raised  to  the 
highest  pitch,  as  she  added,  "  Come,  general,  one 
gavotte  with  me." 

"  You  little  vixen,"  he  said,  in  low  tones,  bringing 
his  mouth  close  to  her  ear  ;  "  I'll  put  you  on  bread  and 
water  for  this  for  three  days,  and  keep  you  locked  up," 
and,  raising  his  voice,  he  said  aloud,  "  Me  dance  !"  and 
the  burly  soldier  laughed  till  the  tears  ran  down  his 
face  at  the  idea — "  Me  dance,  my  child  I  I  weigh 


MARGARET  AIO>   HER   CONQUESTS.  117 

nearly  two  hundred  pounds,  and  am  over  sixty.  No, 
no,  I  do  such  things  by  proxy,  as  the  lawyers  say. 
Here,  Burr,"  and  he  beckoned  his  handsome  aid,  -who 
Bprang  gaily  to  his  side,  "  this  young  lady  wants  to 
tlance." 

"  Thank  you,  General  Putnam,"  she  said,  with  well 
afiected  hauteur,  as  Major  Burr  advanced ;  "  I  did  not 
ask  you  to  choose  a  partner  for  me — I  can  do  that  my- 
self. Nothing  less  than  a  general  officer  can  get  me 
on  the  floor  again  this  evening ;"  and,  as  she  spoke, 
Lord  Stirling,  the  gallant,  high-bred  gentleman,  stepped 
forward,  and,  with  a  low  bow,  said  : 

"  General,  Lord  Stirling  requests  the  honor  of  your 
hand  for  the  next  gavotte." 

"  Miss  Moncriefle  is  honored  by  Lord  Stirling's 
choice,"  she  said,  with  a  courtesy  absolutely  as  cour- 
teous as  his  bow,  and  with  a  quick,  meaning  glance  at 
Major  Burr,  who  had  watched  her  with  an  interest 
excelled  only  by  his  admiration  of  her  perfect  self- 
possession,  she  took  the  arm  of  the  gallant  nobleman, 
and  was  led  away  by  him. 

"  Faith,  that  is  the  greatest  vixen  I  have  seen  in 
many  a  day,  Burr,"  said  General  Putnam,  turning  to 
his  aid,  who  stood  by  his  side.  "  She  had  the  impu- 
dence to  ask  me  to  dance  the  gavotte.  I  believe  I 
will  ask  her  to  storm  a  battery  with  me  some  day." 

"  She  won't  refuse,  general,  I  can  promise  you,"  re- 
plied Major  Burr,  laughingly,  as  he  noticed  how  seri- 


118  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

ously  the  good  old  general  took  to  heart  the  playful 
badinage  of  Margaret.  "I  don't  believe  she  know* 
what  fear  is,  any  more  than  you  do." 

This  well-timed  and  well-merited  compliment  soothed 
the  old  general,  and  joining  the  coterie,  he  was  soon 
employed  in  discussing  with  them,  but  in  low  tones, 
the  probabilities  and  possibilities  which  the  next  few 
weeks  might  biing  forth,  for  it  was  generally  believed 
that  Lord  Howe,  who  had  left  Virginia  with  his  fleet, 
intended  to  make  New  York  the  centre  of  his  opera- 
tions for  the  next  campaign. 

Major  Burr  sauntered  carelessly  away,  and  joined  a 
group  of  young  officers,  who  stood  watching  the  mo- 
tions of  Lord  Stirling  and  Margaret,  as  they  moved 
through  the  stately  and  graceful  gavotte,  the  favorite 
dance  of  that  period.  Leaning  against  a  column  which 
stood  near  the  folding  doors,  in  the  room  in  which  they 
were  dancing,  he  feasted  his  eyes  in  silent  contempla- 
tion of  her  to  whom  he  had  given  his  whole  heart  and 
soul,  envying  the  noble  old  general  even  the  poor  privi- 
lege of  one  dance. 

Lord  Stirling  having  concluded  the  gavotte  with 
Margaret,  led  her  again  to  the  coterie  of  general 
officers,  who,  by  this  time,  had  been  surrounded  by  a 
large  corps  of  younger  officers  and  ladies,  and  again 
she  proved  the  centre  of  attraction. 

Her  wit  was  so  pungent,  her  satire  so  good-natured, 
and  her  vivacity  so  perfectly  natural,  she  carried  all 


MARGARET  AND  HER  COXQUESTS.        119 

hearts  by  storm,  and  the  daughter  of  the  Royalist 
officer,  who  a  few  days  before  had  been  glad  to  find 
shelter  and  protection  with  her  natural  enemies  (for  as 
such  she  looked  upon  all  Americans),  was  the  cynosure 
of  all  eyes,  and  the  great  centre  of  attraction  to  all. 

It  was  not  until  the  close  of  the  entertainment  that 
Major  Burr  had  an  opportunity  of  being  alone  with 
her  for  one  moment,  and  it  was  then  only  effected  at 
her  earnest  request,  that  she  should  be  conducted  to 
him,  and  on  her  positive  assurance  she  would  not  dance 
any  more  during  the  night. 

"  Oh,  Aaron,"  she  said,  as  taking  his  r^ady  arm, 
they  moved  away  from  the  throng  which  had  sur- 
rounded her,  "  how  I  hate  and  despise  these  compli- 
ments and  flatteries,  meaning  nothing.  Do  you  know 
what  I  have  been  thinking  the  whole  evening  ?"  and 
she  looked  fondly  in  his  face  as  she  spoke. 

"  I  know  who  I  have  been  thinking  of,"  he  said,  with 
a  smile  full  of  meaning. 

"  And  so  do  I,  Aaron.  I  was  thinking  how  mean- 
ingless and  hollow  all  their  compliments  and  flatteries 
were,  when  I  compared  them  with  the  look  I  met  when 
you  held  me  in  your  arms  after  having  rescued  me 
from  that  ruffian,"  and  she  clung  closer  to  his  side,  as 
if  the  memory  of  the  peril  she  had  passed  was  so  vivid 
that  she  dreaded  its  recurrence,  and  clung  to  him  for 
protection. 

"  Were  you,  indeed,  Margaret  ?"  asked  the  young 


120  MAKGABET  MOXCBIEFFB 

officer,  eagerly,  as  they  stepped  upon  the  balcony 
which  fronted  on  Broadway. 

"  Indeed,  Aaron,  I  was.  Believe  me,  though  I  am 
joung,  and  seem  giddy,  thoughtless  and  reckless,  my 
feelings  are  warm,  deep,  and  very  earnest.  You  have 
them  all.  Don't  heed  how  I  aci  with  others ;  I  must 
act  as  I  have  done  from  policy.  Remember,  Aaron,  I 
am  only  here  by  courtesy  of  our  enemies." 

"  Oh,  don't  say  enemies,  Margaret,"  exclaimed 
Major  Burr,  impetuously.  "  Do  not  let  that  word 
come  between  us." 

"  It  never  can  interpose  between  us,  Aaron,"  and 
she  laid  her  hand  on  his.  "  I  have  acted  toward  you 
rashly,  impulsively,  but  only  as  my  heart  dictated 
Do  r<ot  think  less  of  me,  that  I  have  been  so  frank  ?" 

"Dear,  dearest  Margaret,  do  what  you  will,  say 
what  you  will,  act  as  you  will ;  the  consciousness  that  I 
possess  your  love  is  all  I  ask  to  render  my  happiness  on 
earth  complete.  But  oh  !  what  is  to  be  our  future  ?" 
and  he  sighed  .deeply  as  he  spoke. 

"Love,  happiness,  Aaron.  You  love  me,  don't 
you  ?"  she  asked,  turning  upon  him  her  eyes,  beaming 
with  the  deep  feeling  which  prompted  the  question. 

"  Better  than  anything  on  earth,  Margaret,"  was 
the  earnest  reply,  delivered  with  a  warmth  and  depth 
of  manner  which  alone  would  have  convinced  noy 
we  man  of  his  sincerity. 

"I  know,  I  felt  it,  and  have  perfect  faith  in  >om 


MARGARET    AND    HER   CONQUESTS.  121 

love.  So  do  not  let  us  borrow  trouble  ;  it  will  come 
without  our  aid,  and  heaven  only  knows  how  soon." 

"  You  have  been  very  much  admired  to-night, 
Margaret,"  he  said,  half  inquiringly,  half  reproachfully. 

"Yes,"  she  replied,  laughingly,  "I  believe  I  have 
made  several  conquests.  Colonel  St.  Clair  has  declared 
that  he  never  will  forgive  me  if  I  do  not  attend  the  ball 
of  his  battalion  next  week." 

"  And  what  did  you  say  ?"  he  inquired,  with  a 
searching  look. 

"  Oh,  I  referred  him  to  General  Putnam,  and  if  he 
gains  his  permission,  I  promised  you  should  take  ine 
there." 

"  The  dear,  good  old  general  can't  refuse  you  any- 
thing, so  of  course  you  will  go." 

"  And  you  ?» 

"  Of  course,  by  your  permission.  You  know  I  sur- 
rendered to  you,  and  consider  myself  under  your 
orders." 

The  conversation  was  pursued  in  this  strain  for  a 
few  moments  longer,  the  lovers  leaning  on  the  balcony 
on  which  they  stood,  and  speaking  in  almost  whispered 
tones,  when  it  was  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  a 
sudden  flash  of  light,  which  shot  up  from  a  house  ap- 
parently not  far  distant  from  the  one  in  which  they 
were  standing. 

"There  is  a  fire,  Margaret.  T  must  go  and  see 
where  and  what  it  may  be,  for  we  have  so  many  Tories 
6 


122  MAEGAHET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

among  us,  we  have  to  be  unceasingly  vigilant.  Tea 
must  go  home  with  General  Putnam,  and  I  will  se« 
you  in  the  morning.  I  have  to  ride  a  long  distance 
to-morrow,"  and  thr-se  last  words  were  uttered  in  toned 
which  said,  "  Would  you  like  to  accompany  me  ?" 

"  So  much  the  better,  Aaron.  We  shall  have  a  bet- 
ter opportunity  for  conversation,  for  I  shall  manage  to 
join  you.  You  see  I  am  bold,  but  love  has  made  me 
so." 

"  Thank  you  a  thousand  times,  my  own  Margaret," 
exclaimed  the  young  officer,  enthusiastically,  as  he 
drew  her  arm  within  his  own,  and  leading  her  back 
into  the  room  where  the  company  were  still  assembled, 
consigned  her  to  the  care  of  the  good  old  general,  to 
whom  he  had  reported  the  fact  of  the  fire,  and  an- 
nounced his  intention  of  going  to  the  scene  in  order  to 
ascertain,  if  possible,  whether  it  was  an  accident  or  the 
result  of  design  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  turbulent 
Tories  who  were  permitted  to  remain  in  the  city, 
though  only  upon  giving  bonds  for  their  behavior. 

"  She  will  go  home  with  me,  major,"  he  said,  as  Mar- 
garet drew  close  to  his  side.  "  Go  and  see  what  it  is, 
and  report  when  you  return.  I  shall  not  retire  until 
you  come  back.  Oh,  you  need  not  fear  for  Miss  Mon- 
crieffe,"  said  the  old  soldier,  gaily,  as  he  caught  his  aid 
stealing  a  glance  at  Margaret.  "If  I  don't  take  good 
care  of  her,  there  are  a  hundred  here  ready  to  take 
my  place.  She  will  be  safe  enough,  I  will  warrant." 


MAKGARET  AN*D   HER   COXQTTESTS.  123 

Major  Burr  made  no  reply  to  his  general,  but  with  a 
.ow  bow,  took  his  leave,  and  proceeded  toward  the 
scene  of  the  fire. 

The  conflagration  was  very  trifling,  and  the  flamea 
being  soon  extinguished,  the  young  aid  retired  to  his 
own  quarters,  where  he  found  General  Putnam  in  the 
parlor,  surrounded  by  his  family,  Margaret,  of  course, 
included,  and  having  made  his  report,  he  was  about  re- 
tiring for  the  night,  when  the  general  arrested  him  by 
saying : 

"  By  the  way,  major,"  and  as  Major  Burr  turned  to 
receive  his  command,  he  continued  sternly :  "  I  wish 
you  would  send  some  discreet  officer  to-morrow  night, 
to  Corbie's,  and  report  what  he  sees  and  hears.  It  is 
our  belief  that  his  pestilent  den  is  the  resort  of  the 
most  dangerous  characters,  who  are  eternally  plotting 
treason  ;  and  if  we  discover  any  cause,  we  are  deter- 
mined to  break  his  house  up  at  once,  and  send  him 
out  of  the  city.  Pick  out  some  one  not  likely  to 
be  known,  and  let  him  make  any  pretence  he 
chooses,  to  find  out  what  is  really  going  on  there, 
but  it  must  be  some  brave,  cool-headed,  intelligent 
man." 

"  I  have  one  in  my  eye  now,  general,"  replied  the 
aid,  "  a  young  fellow  from  Elizabeth.  He  is  the  son  of 
an  old  lady,  with  whom  I  am  well  acquainted,  and  with 
whom  I  have  passed  many  a  happy  hour ;  a  sharp,  keen, 
quick-witted  fellow,  brave  as  a  lion,  and  if  there  is  any. 


124  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

thing  wrong  going  on,  I  will  guarantee  he  wiL  find  it 
out." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  between  the 
general  and  his  aid,  Margaret  seemed  an  attentive  list- 
ener to  the  prattle  of  the  general's  daughters  concern- 
ing  the  ball  and  their  beaux  (for  in  those  days,  young 
ladies  were  just  as  fond  of  the  ball  and  beau,  as  they  are 
at  present),  but  she  had  heard  and  remembered  every 
word  which  he  had  uttered. 

In  a  few  minutes  after  the  aid  had  retired,  she  pleaded 
a  severe  headache,  for  leaving  such  pleasant  company, 
and  withdrew  to  her  own  room,  and  seating  herself  at 
a  table,  drew  forth  a  small  slip  of  paper,  and  hastily 
wrote  a  few  lines  in  pencil.  This  she  folded  up  in  a 
very  small  compass,  and  placed  in  her  pocket ;  and  she 
then  proceeded  to  note  down  the  incidents  and  occur- 
rences  of  the  day  and  night,  as,  indeed,  she  had  done 
•ince  the  first  day  she  rode  out  with  Major  Burr. 


CHAPTER  XH. 

THE  BROTHERS'  MEETING. 

ON  the  following  morning,  General  Putnam's  pre- 
sented the  appearance  of  a  levee.  Officers  of  every 
grade  poured  in,  with  kind  inquiries  after  the  health  of 
the  Misses  Putnam,  who  had  the  penetration,  however, 
to  discover  that  this  remarkable  anxiety  for  their  health, 
was  but  a  pretext  for  seeing  Miss  Moncrieffe  ;  and  while 
slightly  piqued,  they  had  the  discretion  and  good  sense 
to  make  the  best  of  it.  Indeed,  one  of  them,  taking  a 
moment  when  the  parlor  was  empty  of  visitors,  said  to 
Margaret,  with  an  arch  look  ;  "  it's  well  you  can't  marry 
more  than  one,  Margaret,  there's  some  chance  for  us, 
after  you  have  taken  your  choice." 

"  Keep  them  all,  cousin  Bell,"  she  said,  gaily.  "  I  am 
too  good  a  loyalist  for  any  of  them,  and  they  know  it, 
for  I  have  spoken  my  mind  very  freely." 

At  this  juncture  another  visitor  was  announced,  one 
who  was  a  stranger  to  the  general's  family,  and  who  had 
inquired  for  Miss  Moncrieffe. 

It  was  Captain  Blanchard,  of  the  Royalist  army ;  and 
as  his  name  wras  announced,  Margaret  sprang  forward, 
and  as  she  did  so,  she  hastily  thrust  her  right  hand  into 


120  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 


the  pocket  of  her  dress,  and  as  she  advanced, 
it  forth  and  extended  both  hands,  which  were  warmly 
gi-asped  by  the  gallant,  but  unfortunate  officer,  who,  as 
an  old  friend  of  Major  Moncrieffe,  was  warmly  attached 
to  his  daughter. 

"  An  old  friend  of  mine,  ladies,"  she  said,  drawing 
him  forward,  and  retaining  one  of  his  hands  in  her  own  ; 
one  of  my  father's  best  friends  —  Captain  Blanchard,  of 
the  royal  army." 

The  Misses  Putnam  bowed  to  the  salutation  of  the 
captain,  but  his  reception  Avas  much  less  cordial  than 
that  of  the  provincial  officers  —  for  the  general's  daugh- 
ters were  ardent  patriots.  This  was  felt  by  the  captain, 
who,  however,  only  exhibited  his  perception  of  it,  by 
directing  the  most  of  his  conversation  to  Margaret  ; 
and  the  advent  of  two  or  three  young  officers  enabled 
him  for  a  few  moments,  to  converse  with  her  alone. 
She  inquired  after  old  friends,  spoke  about  home  and 
dear  old  England,  with  the  honest  enthusiasm  of  her 
heart,  and,  for  the  moment,  forgot  their  position  —  he, 
a  prisoner  on  parole  ;  she,  the  protegee  of  a  rebel  gene- 
ral, glad  of  the  protection  Avhich  he  had  so  courteously 
proffered,  and  which  was  so  hospitably  secured  to  her. 

A  few  moments  only,  however,  were  allowed  them 
for  private  conversation  —  if,  indeed,  that  could  be  called 
private,  which  was  overheard  by  all  present  —  for  the 
visitors  soon  turned  it  into  a  more  general  channel  ;  and 
Captain  Blanchard  having,  by  his  manly,  polished  bear- 


THE  BROTHERS'  MEETING.  127 

ing,  worn  away  the  impression  which  his  first  appear- 
ance  had  made,  solely  on  account  of  his  position,  rose  to 
withdraw,  and  received  from  the  Misses  Putnam,  as  well 
as  from  Margaret,  a  pressing  invitation  to  call  again, 
whenever  he  found  it  pleasant  to  do  so,  an  invitation  of 
which  he  promised  to  avail  himself  at  an  early  day. 

Margaret  escorted  him  to  the  door  of  the  parlor, 
where  a  look  full  of  meaning  was  exchanged  between 
them,  and  he  took  his  leave,  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the 
hand. 

Proceeding  up  Broadway,  he  stopped  at  the  shop  of 
Forbes,  the  gunsmith,  and  found  him  alone. 

"Are  my  pistols  finished  yet?"  he  asked,  after  the 
salutation  of  the  morning  had  passed  between  them. 

"  Not  quite,  captain,"  was  the  reply.  "  Won't  you 
walk  into  the  back  room  and  rest  a  bit  ?" 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  Forbes.  Are  any  of  your  boys 
about  ?" 

"  No,  I  am  entirely  alone,"  and  as  he  spoke,  the  cap- 
tain drew  from  his  pocket  a  scrap  of  paper,  rolled  into 
a  very  small  compass,  saying  to  Forbes,  as  he  un- 
folded it :  "  Keep  your  eyes  wide  open,"  and  pro- 
ceeded to  read  it.  It  ran  briefly  thus : 

"  I  don't  know  who  Corbie  is  ;  but  a  party  is  going 
to  his  house  to-night  in  disguise,  to  see  and  hear  what 
he  can.  If  Corbie  is  one  of  our  friends  put  him  on  hia 
guard." 


128  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFK. 

"  Bravo  !"  he  said,  as  he  rolled  the  paper  up  and  put 
it  in  his  mouth.  "  Now,  Forbes,  can  you  see  Corbie 
to-day  ?" 

"  Of  course,  if  it  is  necessary,  captain,  I  can  do  any- 
thing  for  his  most  gracious  majesty's  cause." 

"  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,"  said  Captain 
Blanchard,  earnestly.  "  You  must  see  him  or  send 
word  by  some  trusty  friend  that  a  person  is  coming  to 
his  house  to-night,  in  disguise,  probably  to  watch  what 
is  said  and  done.  So  tell  him  that  if  any  stranger 
comes  there,  to  be  careful.  He  knows  all  of  our 
friends,  does  he  not  ?" 

"  Of  course  he  does.  But  to  make  matters  sure,  I 
will  be  there  myself.  Oh,  captain,  there's  the  very 
man,  Hickey,"  and,  advancing  toward  the  door,  he 
hailed  the  guardsman,  who  at  that  moment  was  passing 
by  on  the  other  side  of  the  street  toward  the  lower 
end  of  the  city,  and  who,  on  hearing  Forbes'  voice, 
immediately  crossed  over  and  entered  the  shop, 
which  he  could  well  do  without  exciting  any  sus- 
picions, as  it  was  frequented  by  officers  and  sol- 
diers of  all  parties,  although  Forbes  was  a  noted 
Royalist. 

"Hickey,  you  must  see  Corbie  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  tell  him  that  there  will  be  a  spy  at  the  house  this 
evening,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  looked  at  Captain  Blan- 
chard, whose  face  was  crimsoned  as  he  heard  that 
word ;  for  to  him,  a  prisoner  on  parole,  received  and 


THE  BROTHERS'  MEETING.  12& 

treated  as  a  gentleman,  that  word  emphatically  be- 
longed. 

"  I  know  where  it  comes  from,"  said  Hickey,  with  a 
meaning  smile  ;  "  I  wish  there  was  more  like  " 

"  Go  along,  sir,"  said  Captain  Blanchard,  sternly, 
and  he  gave  the  guardsman  a  look  which  said,  as 
plain  as  words  could  speak,  '*  don't  name  her." 

Touching  his  cap,  the  guardsman  left  the  shop,  and, 
as  he  crossed  the  street,  Forbes  said  to  the  captain  : 

"  That  fellow  has  brought  us  nearly  a  dozen  first- 
rate  fellows.  "We've  got  a  captain  in  McDougal's 
regiment,  too — a  fine  young  fellow,  who,  I  think,  you'll 
like." 

"  No  great  gain,  I  am  afraid,"  replied  the  captain,  to 
whom  the  well-merited  character  of  the  regiment,  for 
insubordination  and  general  inefficiency,  was  quite 
familiar  ;  "  when  is  the  boat  coming  again  ?" 

"  We  never  know  ;  it  has  not  been  up  now  in  three 
nights.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  it  came  to-night." 

"  It  must  not  land  on  any  account,"  continued  the 
captain. 

"  Of  course  not-^Corbie  has  that  arranged.  When 
there's  any  danger  about,  he  always  puts  a  light  in  the 
end  window.  Those  in  the  boat  can  see  it  long  before 
they  reach  the  cove,  and  of  course  they  won't  attempt 
to  land.  He'll  look  out  for  that." 

"  Well,  Forbes,  be  careful.  You  know  how  much 
depends  upon  silence  and  discretion.  I  am  going  on 
6* 


130  MARGARET   MOXCRiEFFE. 

the  island  to-day  for  a  rule.  What  shall  I  say  to 
Mathewfi?" 

"  Say  I  want  a  hundred  guineas.  Hickey  has  got 
two  more  of  the  guardsmen,  and  I  must  have  the  sub- 
sistence money  for  those  we've  got.  Prompt  pay  will 
keep  them  safer  than  oaths." 

"  True,"  replied  the  captain,  musingly,  and  at  that 
moment  a  couple  of  officers  from  Smallwood's  com- 
mand entered  the  shop  to  inquire  after  some  repairs 
which  they  had  ordered  made  to  their  weapons,  and, 
as  they  had  often  met  Captain  Blanchard  in  social 
intercourse,  and  were  well  acquainted  with  him,  they 
soon  entered  into  a  friendly  conversation,  which,  turn- 
ing on  shooting,  was  terminated  by  a  challenge  from 
the  senior  of  the  trio,  Captain  Blanchard,  to  a  trial  of 
skill  at  pistols,  to  come  off  at  once,  in  the  rear  of 
Forbes's  house,  and  with  any  pistols  at  hand. 

"  My  own  are  here,  Captain  Barnum,"  said  the  Roy- 
alist ;  "  but  rather  out  of  order.  However,  they  are 
better  than  most  you  will  find,  and  we'll  use  them  if 
you  have  no  objections.  Forbes,  hurry  and  get  thea? 
ready  for  us.  What  shall  it  be  ?  A  bottle  of  wine,  of 
course,"  he  added,  gaily,  "  and  we'll  drink  it  at  my 
rooms." 

"  A  bottle  apiece,  captain,"  said  Lieutenant  Symmes, 
the  other  of  the  continental  officers;  to  which,  of 
course,  Captain  Blanchard  assented. 

Forbes  pro  luced  the  weapons  belonging  to  Captain 


THE  BROTHERS'  MEETING.  181 

Blanchard.  which  were  handled  and  admired  by  the 
young  Southerners  with  evident  delight,  for  they  were 
really  superb  specimens  of  Avorkmanship,  and  evidently 
made  for  use. 

"  Why,  Captain  Blanchard,"  exclaimed  Captain  Bar- 
num,  "  this  is  very  singular." 

"  And  pray  what  is  very  singular  ?"  said  Captain 
Blanchard,  with  an  inquiring  look. 

"  Why,  this  coat  of  arms  on  your  pistols.  Look 
here,"  and  he  drew  forth  his  massive  gold  watch,  tc 
which  was  appended  a  large  carnelian  seal,  exquisitely 
cut.  "  See,"  and  he  held  the  seal  close  to  that  en- 
graved on  the  butt  of  the  pistols. 

Captain  Blanchard  looked,  and  a  single  glance  suf- 
ficed to  show  that  one  was  the  counterpart  of  the 
other.  He  looked  at  the  seal — he  looked  at  Captain 
Barnum — and  he  looked  at  the  seal  again.  But  the 
look  afforded  no  explanation  except  that  they  were 
precisely  alike. 

"  These  are  my  mother's  arms,"  said  Captain  Bar- 
num, pointing  to  his  seal.  "  She  was  a  Blanchard." 

"  And  her  name  ?"  asked  the  Royalist,  as  the  perspi- 
ration started  to  his  brow. 

"  Mary,  from  Hertford  County." 
Captain  Blanchard,  without  saying  one  word,  took 
the  pistol  from  the  hand  of  the  continental  officer,  and 
placed  it  gently  in  the  case,  then  taking  off  his  cap,  he 
tiped  the  perspiration   which  stood  in   heavy 


132  MARGARET  MONCRTEFFK. 

on  his  forehead,  and  said  slowly,  and  with  deep  emo- 
tion: 

"  She  was  my  aunt — my  favorite  aunt — and  we  are 
cousins,  Captain  Barnum  ;"  and,  as  he  spoke,  he  ex- 
tended his  hand,  adding,  "  Come,  captain,  we  may 
shake  hands  as  relations,  at  least ;  God  put  an  end  to 
this  cruel  war,  which  brings  us  into  such  mortal  con- 
flict with  even  our  blood." 

For  an  instant  Captain  Barnum  stood  mute.  There 
could  be  no  doubt  that  what  had  been  said  was  true, 
and  he,  too,  felt  bitterly  the  necessity  which  compelled 
him  to  view  as  an  enemy  one  to  whom  he  was  united 
by  such  close  ties  of  consanguinity.  But  he  hesitated 
only  a  moment ;  then  grasping  the  hand  of  his  royalist 
cousin,  forgot,  for  a  time,  the  position  in  which  they 
were  placed,  in  the  pleasure,  not  unmixed  with  pain, 
of  this  singular  meeting.  Both  seemed  boys  again. 
Captain  Blanchard  was  the  senior  of  his  cousin  some 
twelve  years,  but  remembered  him  well  when  he  Avas 
an  infant,  at  the  time  he  embarked  with  his  parents  for 
the  Colony  of  Virginia.  Nothing  was  heard  from  them 
for  years ;  but  at  length  a  letter  was  received  from 
Mary,  picturing  in  glowing  terms  the  loveliness  of  the 
country,  the  healthfulness  of  the  climate,  and  the  hap 
piness  by  which  she  was  surrounded.  Indeed,  her  de- 
scription of  life  in  Virginia  was  painted  in  such  glowing 
couleurs  de  rose,  Mr.  Blanchard's  youngest  sun,  Ed- 
mund asked  and  obtained  permission  to  join  his  aunt 


THE   BROTHERS'    MEETING.  133 

in  their  new  home,  and  came  out  to  seek  his  own  for- 
tune  in  the  new  world — a  permission  the  more  readily 
granted,  as  the  old  man  had  a  large  family  dependent 
upon  him,  and  an  income  far  from  corresponding  to  the 
demands  which  they  necessarily  made  upon  it. 

Edmund  Blanchard  wrote'occasionally  to  his  parents, 
but  at  length  all  communication  between  the  families 
ceased,  and  Mr.  Blanchard  and  his  wife  sank  into  the 
grave,  ignorant  whether  their  youngest  and  favorite 
child  was  living  or  dead. 

Questions  were  asked  and  answered  by  either  with 
marveUous  rapidity,  and  as  they  continued  to  converse, 
their  interest  in  each  other  grew  stronger,  until  at 
length  Captain  Barnum  put  an  end  to  the  conversation 
by  placing  his  arm  within  that  of  his  cousin,  and  say- 
ing: 

"  Suppose  we  postpone  our  match  for  to-day.  Come 
to  my  quarters,  and  I  will  tell  you  something  that  will 
surprise  you  more  than  anything  you  have  heard  yet. 
Come,  Symmes,  some  other  time  we  will  shoot  for  the 
wine ;  you  will,  I  am  sure,  excuse  us  now,  under  such 
circumstances ;"  and  arm  in  arm,  the  trio  proceeded  up 
Broadway  a  short  distance,  when  Lieutenant  Symmes, 
rightly  thinking  that  the  cousins,  so  long  separated, 
would  have  many  personal  and  purely  private  matters 
to  speak  of,  made  some  excuse  for  not  joining  them, 
and  left  them  to  pursue  their  way  to  Captain  Barnum's 
quarters  alone. 


134  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFB. 

The  captain,  in  company  with  other  officers  of  the 
same  command,  had  rented  a  commodious  house,  which 
stood  a  little  back  from  the  street  now  known  as  Cham- 
bers street,  not  far  distant  from  the  Battery,  which 
extended  from  the  corner  of  Warren  and  Greenwich 
streets  almost  to  the  old  Vauxhall  Garden. 

Several  officers  were  in  the  room  into  which  Captain 
Blanchard  was  conducted,  to  whom  he  was  introduced, 
and  as  all  had  heard  him  ever  named  with  high  praises, 
with  the  courtesy  and  gallantry  characteristic  of 
soldiers  and  gentlemen,  they  gave  him  a  cordial  wel- 
come. Captain  Barnum  whispered  a  few  words  to  one 
of  the  young  officers,  who  retired  almost  immediately, 
and  wine  having  been  ordered  and  brought,  the  party 
were  soon  engaged  in  lively  conversation.  By  common 
consent,  any  language  which  could  pain  or  wound  the 
feelings  of  the  captured  officer  was  carefully  avoided, 
and  he  was  soon  made  to  feel  as  much  at  home  as  if  he 
had  been  at  his  own  mess-table,  for  he  was  in  the  soci- 
ety of  high-toned  gentlemen,  who,  having  espoused  the 
cause  of  their  country  from  principle,  were  disposed  to 
admit  that  those  who  differed  with  them  might  be 
actuated  by  motives  equally  commendable. 

Captain  Blanchard,  in  the  company  of  the  several 
southerners,  soon  felt  at  home,  and  the  story,  jest,  and 
witticism  passed  freely  about  without  fear  of  giving 
offence  to  any. 

As  the  seni  -r  officer,  Captain  Barnum  presided  over 


THE    BUOTHEES'    MEETING.  135 

their  matutinal  revel,  and  his  presence  seemed  to 
operate  as  a  check  upon  the  conviviality  of  his  com- 
peers, who,  as  ready  for  fighting  as  for  feasting,  had 
turned  many  looks  toward  him,  wondering  at  the 
seriousness  of  his  manner. 

But  even  in  the  midst  of  that  hilarity,  he  was  seri- 
ous— deeply,  thoughtfully  so;  and  when  he  was  awa- 
kened from  a  reverie  into  which  he  had  fallen,  by  the 
return  of  the  young  officer  who  had  before  retired  at 
his  bidding,  an  expression  of  actual  pain,  crossed  his 
features,  as  he  arose  and  said  : 

"  Gentlemen,  pray  excuse  my  friend,  Captain  Blanch- 
ard,  and  myself,  for  a  few  moments,"  and  at  these 
words  Captain  Blanchard  arose,  followed  by  his  host, 
and  left  the  room,  wondering,  however,  what  could  be 
the  purpose  of  this  summons. 

"  I  promised  you  a  surprise,  Captain  Blanchard," 
said  the  provincial  officer,  with  a  smile  of  actual  sadness. 
"  I  know  you  will  excuse  the  manner  in  which  I  fulfill 
my  promise,  in  consideration  of  my  motives ;  pray, 
come  to  my  quarters,"  and  he  ascended  to  the  second 
story,  followed  by  the  wondering  royalist. 

On  entering  the  apartment,  they  found  seated  there, 
an  officer  dressed  in  the  uniform  of  Colonel  McDougal's 
regiment ;  a  fine,  stalwart  looking  man,  who  had  proba- 
bly seen  some  thirty  summers.  He  was  engaged  in 
perusing  "  Rivington's  Gazette,"  the  only  one  published 
in  the  city  a*  that  period  j  as  the  door  was  opened,  he 


13(J  MAKGAKET   MONCRIEFFK. 

dropped  his  paper,  and  advanced  to  meet  Captain  Bar- 
num,  with  whom  he  was  on  terms  of  familiarity,  at  the 
Karne  time  greeting  Captain  Blanchard  with  a  courteous 
bow. 

"  Well,  captain,  you  see  I  am  a  minute  man,"  he 
said,  gaily.  "  "What  is  it  ?  Love  or  war !" 

**A  little  of  both,  captain,"  was  the  reply  of  the 
Marylander,  and  as  he  spoke,  Captain  Blanchard  and 
the  continental  officer  advanced  close  to  his  side. 

"  You  do  not  seem  to  know  each  other,"  he  said, 
turning  from  one  to  the  other,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  cannot  say  I  remember  ever  having  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  this  gentleman,  before,"  said  Captain  Blanch- 
ard, the  Royalist,  really  lost  in  amazement  at  his  host's 
conduct,  and  gazing  steadily  at  his  namesake. 

"  Well,  then,  I  must  refresh  your  memory.  Captain 
Blanchard,  of  the  royalist  army,  let  me  introduce  to 
you,  Captain  Blanchard,  of  the  continental  army — Col. 
McDougal's  regiment." 

For  an  instant  the  two  captains  stood  eyeing  each 
other,  as  if  striving  to  recall  something  either  had  for- 
gotten ;  but  nature,  at  length,  asserted  her  sway,  and 
with  an  exclamation  of  joy,  they  sprung  forward,  and 
as  they  stood  clasped  in  each  other's  arms,  "  brother 
Edmund,"  and  "  brother  Arthur,"  testified  that  the 
brothers,  separated  for  rt  ore  than  fifteen  years,  had 
met  again. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A     SPY     IN    THE     CAMP. 

IT  was  scarcely  dusk,  when  Gilbert  Forbes,  dressed 
in  his  best  clothes,  and  looking  as  nnlike  a  workman 
as  he  could  make  himself  appear,  entered  the  tap-room 
of  Corbie's  house,  where  he  found  some  half-dozen  of 
the  soldiers,  from  various  regiments,  assembled,  dis- 
cussing the  affairs  of  the  nation,  and  making  them- 
selves ridiculous,  as  rapidly  as  they  could,  by  swallow- 
ing glass  after  glass  of  the  "  real  Jamaica,"  or  the  "  real 
schnapps,"  set  before  them.  With  these,  were  present, 
also,  as  many  well-known  and  marked  royalists,  who 
were  similarly  engaged. 

Forbes  advanced  to  the  bar,  behind  which  Corbie 
was  standing,  and  as  he  called  for  some  of  the  best  Ja- 
maica, a  glance  of  intelligence  passed  between  them 
and  then  the  former  was  satisfied  that  Hickey  had  faith- 
fully delivered  his  message. 

"  Come,  boys,"  said  Forbes,  seating  himself  at  the 
table  already  occupied  by  the  half  score,  who  moved 
around  to  make  room  for  the  jolly  gunsmith,  for  he 
was  known  to  almost  the  entire  army,  "  let's  have  a 
game  of  cards.  Corbie,  have  you  any  cards  ?" 


138  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFK. 

"  I  aon't  know,  but  I  can  find  a  pack,  somewhere ;" 
and  he  commenced  a  search  in  the  drawers  of  the  bar, 
which  proving  unsuccessful,  he  lighted  a  candle,  and 
left  the  room  to  search  for  them.  He  soon  reappeared, 
bearing  in  his  hand  the  articles  demanded,  and  a  well- 
worn,  greasy  looking  checkerboard.  "  Here,  you  can't 
all  play  cards ;  here's  dominoes,  here's  cards,  and  here's 
the  checkerboard,"  and  he  placed  them  severally  on  the 
table,  as  he  spoke. 

Parties  were  soon  formed,  and  the  various  games 
were  commenced,  interrupted  at  occasional  intervals  by 
the  arrival  of  some  habitual  frequenter  of  the  house, 
who,  after  having  partaken  of  his  drink,  retreated  from 
the  bar  to  the  table,  around  which  the  guests  were 
seated,  and  amused  themselves  by  looking  over  the 
games  of  the  various  players  engaged. 

It  was  nearly  eight  o'clock.  Many  glasses  had  been 
drank.  Many  of  the  inmates  were  fast  approaching  a 
condition,  which,  so  far  as  the  soldiers  were  concerned, 
would  unfit  them  for  appearance  at  their  quarters,  with 
out  the  risk  of  passing  the  night  in  the  guard  house,  and 
the  certainty  of  a  flogging  in  the  morning,  and,  per- 
haps, a  diet  of  bread  and  water  for  a  week,  in  addition. 

Hickey  was  not  present,  as  he  was  on  duty  ;  but  the 
stalwart  Barnes,  who  had  saved  his  back  from  the 
stripes,  at  the  expense  of  his  honor  and  manhood,  was 
among  them,  having  received  his  cue  from  his  fellow, 
guardsman,  and  fellow  traitor,  Hickey. 


A   SPY   IN   THE   CAMP.  T39 

The  evening  wore  on.  Drinking,  card-playing, 
and  the  narration  of  marvellous  adventures,  helped  to 
wile  away  the  time,  and  when  it  lacked  less  than  half 
an  hour  of  tattoo,  which  was  beat  off  at  nine  o'clock, 
Corbie  and  Forbes  exchanged  significant  glances.  Thus 
far  there  had  been  no  one  present,  with  whom  both 
were  unacquainted,  for  Corbie  had  a  very  regular  run 
of  customers,  and  each  was  congratulating  himself,  in- 
wardly, upon  having  escaped  the  snare  spread  for  them, 
when  the  door  of  the  tap-room  was  opened,  and  a  tall, 
country -looking  youth,  attired  in  a  dress  which  defies 
description — for  it  was  a  motley  mixture  of  the 
country  farm-boy,  and  the  aspiring  soldier en- 
tered, and  with  a  hurried  glance  around  the  room, 
and  scanning  its  inmates,  unnoticed,  however,  by 
any  save  Corbie  and  his  fellow  Loyalist,  Forbes,  stepped 
up  to  the  bar  and  demanded  some  liquor,  at  the  sam<? 
time  laying  down  a  continental  bill  of  one  dollar  to  pay 
for  it. 

Corbie  knew  his  man  at  once,  for  that  simple  move- 
ment had  betrayed  him,  as  the  refusal  to  receive  the 
continental  money  at  par,  at  that  time,  was,  by  special 
act  of  Congress,  made  a  crime,  which  was  most  se- 
verely punished. 

The  liquor  was  poured  out,  and  the  full  change 
handed  over,  which  the  stranger  took  up  without  re- 
mark ;  but  he  stole  a  hasty  glance  at  Corbie,  as  he  pre- 
tended tc  be  looking  over  the  counter  at  the  cards  in 


140  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

the  hands  of  one  of  the  players,  who  sat  with  his  back 
toward  him. 

"  You  have  nice  quarters  here,"  he  said,  leaning  on 
the  bar,  and  sipping  his  liquor. 

"You  ain't  the  only  one  who  thinks  so,"  said  the 
landlord,  with  a  wink  and  a  smile,  nodding  toward  the 
group  of  soldiers  gathered  around  his  table.  "  I 
keep  a  quiet,  orderly  house,  and  serve  the  best  of 
liquors  to  anybody  who  will  pay  for  them.  Everybody 
who  comes  in  here  is  a  friend  as  long  as  he  behaves 
like  a  man  and  pays  his  scot,  and  proves  himself 
cne." 

"  And  how  may  that  be  done  ?"  asked  the  stranger. 

"  By  not  talking  war  or  politics.  General  Washing- 
ton allows  me  to  keep  the  house,  right  by  his  quarters, 
you  see,  because  he  knows  I  never  meddle  with  what 
don't  concern  me.  But  I  say,  young  man,  where  are 
you  from  ?  I  never  saw  you  before." 

"  Oh  !  I'm  from  Jersey." 

"  Ye« ;  but  where  are  your  quarters  ?" 

"  Oh  !  a  thundering  ways  off,  and  I'm  afraid  I  shall 
get  in  some  cursed  trouble  ;  I  don't  believe  I  can  get 
in  by  tattoo ;  let  me  see,"  and  he  looked  at  the  old 
clock  which  ornamented  one  corner  of  the  bar-room — 
"  almost  nine.  By  hookey  !  I  shall  catch  it !  I  say, 
landlord,  can't  I  stay  here  to-night  ?  and  I'll  make  up 
some  lie  in  the  morning.  I  couldn't  get  through  the 
Gentries  now,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  punished  for 


A   SPY   IN   THE   CAMP.  141 

nothing.  You  see,  I  went  down  into  the  city  to  see  a 
girl,  and  " 

"  How  far  have  you  to  go  ?"  interrupted  Corbie, 
with  an  appearance  of  interest,  as  if  he  felt  sorry  for 
the  predicament  of  the  youthful  soldier. 

"  Oh  !  ?way  over  to  Badlam's  Battery,"  and  he  named 
the  works  erected  at  what  is  now  the  intersection  of 
Market  and  Madison  streets,  and  distant  more  than 
two  miles  from  Corbie's,  across  lots  and  swamps  be- 
tween the  two  points. 

Corbie  did  not  choose  to  ask  him  how  he  got  so  far 
out  of  his  way  ;  he  knew  that  well  enough  ;  but,  turn- 
ing to  Forbes,  said  : 

"  I  say,  Gilbert,  you  know  I  haven't  got  but  one 
spare  bed,  and,  as  you're  out  so  late,  of  course  you're 
going  to  stay.  Will  you  share  with  this  young 
man  ?" 

"  Oh,  of  course  ;  anything  to  oblige,  Corbie,"  and, 
rising  from  the  table,  as  he  finished  his  game  of 
checkers,  he  ^approached  the  bar,  and  addressing  the 
new  comer,  said :  "  I'll  go  halves  with  you,  young 
man,  if  you  will  promise  not  to  quarrel ;  you  know 
they  call  me  a  Royalist." 

"  No — be  you,  though  ?"  said  the  youth,  looking  in- 
tently at  the  gunsmith.  "  Well,"  and  he  lowered  his 
\oice  to  a  whisper,  almost,  as  he  spoke,  "there  ain't 
much  danger  of  our  quarrelling  on  that  score,"  and  he 
ga^  e  the  cunning  gunsmith  a  knowing  wink. 


142  MABGAEET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

"My  name's  Adams,"  continued  the  young  man, 
emptying  his  glass.  "  What  may  yours  be  ?" 

"  Forbes— Gilbert  Forbes." 

"  What !  Forbes,  down  there  in  Broadway  ?  You 
don't  say." 

"  The  same,"  replied  Forbes,  ready  to  laugh  at  the 
idea  of  he  or  Corbie  being  taken  in  by  such  a  man. 

"  Oh,  I'm  mighty  glad  to  see  you,  I  can  tell  you.  It 
was  a  lucky  chance  as  brought  me  here  to-night.  We 
shan't  quarrel,  I  know.  Come,  as  we've  got  to  bundle 
in  together,  let's  have  a  drink,"  and  he  threw  down  on 
the  counter  a  Spanish  shilling,  part  of  the  change  which 
Corbie  had  paid  him,  calling  for  some  "  more  Jarnaiky," 
at  the  same  time  bidding  the  gunsmith  to  order  what 
he  chose  ;  and  as  he  spoke,  he  turned  toward  the  group 
still  seated  around  the  table,  and  scanned  them  with 
eager  looks. 

While  his  back  was  turned,  Corbie  and  Forbes  ex- 
changed glances ;  they  knew  their  man,  and  he  had 
already  shown  them  how  to  treat  him. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Forbes ;  I  don't  care  whether  you  are 
a  Loyalist  or  a  Royalist,  I  kind  o'  like  you,  and  I  drink 
your  health  ;"  and  he  touched  his  lips  to  his  glass. 

"  I  drink  yours  in  a  full  glass,"  said  Forbes,  laugh- 
ingly, emptying  his  glass  without  taking  it  from  his 
mouth. 

"  Come,  sir,"  he  added,  drawing  a  long  breath,  "  you 
can't  do  anything  less  than  I  have  done." 


A   SPY   IX  THE   CAMP.  143 

"  Of  course  not,"  said  the  young  soldier ;  and  he 
tossed  off  his  glass  of  Jamaica  which  Corbie  had 
poured  for  him,  filling  the  tumbler  nearly  two-thirds 
full. 

It  lacked  now  only  five  minutes  of  nine,  and,  as  the 
company  prepared  to  go,  Corbie  went  around  to  collect 
his  glasses  from  the  table  ;  and  while  thus  engaged, 
Forbes  and  young  Adams  were  employed  in  an  ani- 
mated conversation. 

Adams  pretended  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  liquor  ho 
had  drank  ;  but  Forbes  was  too  cunning  to  be  caught 
so  easily,  for  he  had  noticed  that  a  portion  of  the 
young  soldier's  last  glass  had  gone  down  outside  his 
throat. 

"  I  say,  Forbes,  they  won't  kill  a  fellow,  will  they, 
for  being  out  all  night  ?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  you  can  make  up  some  good  lie  for  mom- 
ing.  Perhaps  they'll  give  you  two  or  three  days  on 
bread  and  water  ;  that  won't  amount  to  much,  you 
know.'-' 

"  Not  so  bad  as  a  flogging.  But  I  say,"  and  he 
dropped  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  "  ain't  these  fellows 
going  pretty  soon  ?" 

"  Yes,  they  must  go  in  a  few  moments,  or  the  guard 
house  will  bring  them  up.  "VYhy  do  you  ask?" 

"  Oh,  'cause  I  want  to  talk  to  you  a  bit.  I'%e  heard 
of  you  afore,  Forbes,  I  have;"  and  he  leered,  with  a 
balf  drunken  expression,  at  the  gunsmith. 


144  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  Me,  sir,"  said  Forbes,  coolly ;  "  everybody  in  York 
knows  me.  Some  on  'era  are  down  on  me,  'cause  they 
say  I'm  a  d — d  Tory  ;  but  I  mind  my  own  business, 
and  doesn't  trouble  anybody.  They  can't  get  any  hold 
on  me,  as  I  doesn't  meddle  with  anything  as  doesn't 
concern  me."  Forbes,  who  was  quite  able  to  converse 
m  much  better  language,  adopted  this  style  to  draw 
out  young  Adams. 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  guests  had 
gradually  departed,  and  the  bar-room  was  deserted  by 
all  save  Corbie,  Forbes,  and  the  young  Jerseyman. 

Corbie  was  busily  engaged  in  locking  and  barring 
the  doors  and  windows,  talking  the  while  to  Forbes 
and  the  young  soldier,  the  latter  of  whom,  acting  par- 
tial drunkenness,  called  for  some  more  liquor,  and 
insisted  that  the  landlord  should  join  them. 

Corbie  readily  assented  to  this,  as,  to  use  his  own 
words,  "They  had  the  night  before  them;"  and  pour- 
ing out  three  glasses  of  liquor,  he  placed  them  on  the 
table,  and  seating  himself,  as  did  his  companions,  said : 

"  Come,  young  man,  you  must  not  go  to  bed  without 
drinking  our  toast.  'You  need  not  drink  it  unless  you 
wish ;"  and  raising  his  glass  to  his  lips,  he  said : 
"  Here's  to  the  king — God  bless  him." 

"  Here's  to  the  king — God  bless  him  !"  echoed 
Adams,  emptying  his  glass,  for  the  first  glass  he  had 
drank,  and  the  portion  of  the  second,  had  so  inflamed 
his  appetite,  he  made  no  attempt  to  resist  the  craving 


A   SPr   IV  THE   CAMP.  145 

thus  aroused,  and  its  effects  were  seemingly  almost  im- 
mediately perceptible. 

"  I  say,  boys,"  he  said,  lowering  his  voice  almost  t« 
a  whisper,  "  do  they  flog  a  fellow  in  your  service  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  replied  Forbes,  constituting  himself 
spokesman  ;  "  three  dozen  for  being  out  of  quarters  at 
night,  and  twice  as  much  for  getting  drunk." 

"  You  don't  say  !"  exclaimed  the  astonished  youth. 

"  True  as  gospel.  Why,  Corbie,  here,  deserted  to 
save  his  back,  because  the  court-martial  sentenced  him 
to  a  hundred  lashes  for  getting  on  a  little  spree  and 
outstaying  his  time." 

"  Whew  !"  exclaimed  the  now  really  half  intoxicated 
soldier  ;  "  you  don't  say !"  drawing  out  the  words  to  a 
terrible  length. 

"  Yes,  there's  fifty  pounds  reward  offered  for  him 
now,  and  if  they  get  him  on  board  the  ship,  or  on  the 
island,  I  wouldn't  be  in  his  place  for  twice  fifty 
pounds." 

Adams  looked  at  Corbie,  as  if  for  confirmation  of 
these  assertions,  and  the  landlord,  setting  down  his 
glass  just  finished,  said,  with  a  half  sigh  : 

"  Yes,  it's  so.  I  wouldn't  get  in  their  hands  again 
for  all  I've  got  in  this  house.  But  come,  boys,  you 
must  turn  in  now;  if  the  guard  see  any  light  about  the 
house  when  they  go  the  rounds,  you  will  wish  you 
were  somewhere  else — the  guard-house  would  bring 
both  of  you  up  for  the  night,  and  I  wouldn't  answer 


146  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFB. 

for  to-morrow.  Come,  Forbes,  take  a  light,  you  know 
the  way.  Adams,  you  go  with  him ;  I  want  to  take 
care  of  the  bar.  Good  night,"  and  handing  a  light  to 
the  gunsmith,  he  led  the  way  up  a  small  flight  of  stairs,. 
to  the  room  on  the  second  story  appropriated  to  the 
lodgers. 

"  Curse  it,"  he  said  to  himself,  when  alone,  "  I  don't 
believe  it's  worth  while  to  warn  'em  off  to-night.  Every 
day  is  a  day  now,  and  we  can  manage  that  youngster 
anyhow ;"  and  he  went  on  cleaning  his  glasses,  and 
transferring  the  money  from  his  till  to  a  buckskin 
bag  which  he  drew  from  his  pocket. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged,  Forbes  and  his  young 
friend  were  preparing  to  retire  to  rest  for  the  night. 
Adams  seemed  to  be  partially  affected  by  the  liquor  he 
had  drank,  but  Forbes,  who  was  not  only  an  old  toper, 
but  as  cunning  as  a  fox,  found  little  difficulty  in  detect- 
ing the  simulation,  au4  was,  therefore,  on  his  guard. 

In  a  few  moments  ljoth  wero  disrobed,  and  lying 
side  by  side.  Forbes  soon,  to  til  appearance,  settled 
himself  for  a  night's  rott,  and  commenced  a  snore 
which  would  have  satisfied  the  mtt-t  skeptical  that  he 
worshipped  at  the  shrine  of  Bacchus,  <wd  was  now  pay- 
ing penalty  to  Morpheus. 

Young  Adams,  whose  head  was  proof  against  even 
the  quantity  of  "  old  Jamaiky  "  he  had  imbibed;  and 
who  had  been  selected  for  this  hazardous  mission  as 
well  on  account  of  that  peculiar  qualification  as  /Ur  hia 


A   SPY    IN  THE   CAMP.  147 

natural  snrcwdness,  heard  his  companion  snoring,  and 
after  a  few  moments  of  patient,  or  rather  impatient, 
waiting,  to  assure  himself  that  he  was  sleeping,  rose 
quietly,  and  stole  noiselessly  to  the  door  leading  to  the 
stairs  which  they  had  ascended. 

This  he  opened  cautiously,  and  descending  to  the 
other  door,  which  led  into  the  tap-room,  and  which 
opened  inwardly,  he  planted  himself  upon  the  steps,  and 
with  his  ear  close  to  the  door,  prepared  to  listen  to 
anything  that  might  transpire. 

He  had  not  been  there  many  minutes  when  he  heard 
three  raps  at  the  rear  window,  and  the  opening  and 
closing  of  a  door  assured  him  that  some  persons  had 
been  admitted. 

"  "Well,  Corbie,  what  is  the  word  now  ?"  said  Colonel 
Fanning,  as  he  entered  the  bar-room,  dressed  as  before. 

"  Hist !"  said  Corbie,  in  a  whisper,  pointing  to  the 
door  which  led  to' the  second  story. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  colonel,  with  an  air  of 
anxiety,  but  in  subdued  tones. 

"  "We  heard  to-day,  I  don't  know  how,  except  that 
it  came  through  Captain  Blanchard,  that  a  spy  would 
be  here  to-night.  He's  here  now,  upstairs,"  and  he 
pointed  again  to  the  door ;  "  he's  more  than  two-thirds 
drunk,  so  I  thought  I  wouldn't  set  the  signal." 

"  Right,  Corbie.     Now,  have  you  seen  Yates  ?" 

"  No  ;  no  one  of  that  name  has  been  here  yet,  as  J 
know  of." 


J48  MARGARET   MONCBIEFFE. 

"  "Well,  he  will  come  at  any  hour ;  treat  him  well, 
and  send  him  aboard  as  soon  as  possible.  We  want  to 
move  up  as  soon  as  we  can." 

"  Who  is  he  ?    Who  is  Yates  ?" 

"  A  fellow  who  has  promised  to  pilot  us  as  far  as  the 
Spuytenduyvel ;  that  will  answer  our  purpose,  you 
know." 

"  But  how  am  I  to  know  him  among  so  many  who 
come  here  ?"  asked  Corbie,  earnestly.  "  I  wouldn't 
make  a  mistake  for  a  fortune." 

"  True.  Here,"  and  he  produced  a  packet  of  letters, 
and,  looking  over  them,  he  selected  one  which  he 
handed  to  Corbie,  for  it  was  addressed  to  him.  "  He 
will  ask  if '  any  news  has  been  heajd  of  the  fleet.'  Re- 
member, '  any  news  of  the  fleet ' — any  one  who  comes 
with  that  password  is  safe." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Corbie,  opening,  as  he  spoke, 
the  letter  addressed  to  him,  and  striving  to  mas- 
ter its  contents — a  difficult  task,  indeed ;  for  the 
writer,  Governor  Try  on,  as  has  been  said,  was  the 
worst  of  penmen,  and  Corbie  far  from  being  a 
scholar. 

"  Here  are  letters  for  Blanchard,  Matthews,  Forbes — 
and,  let  me  see — and  here  is  one  for  Miss  Moncriefie. 
Who  is  she,  Corbie  ?" 

"  Why,  that  young  girl  at  General  Putnam's.  She 
came  here  a  few  days  ago  from  Elizabeth,  and  is  stay- 
ing with  him." 


A   SPT   IN   THE   CAMP.  >«,0 

"Well,  that  must  be  delivered  with  the  greatest 
secrecy.  How  can  you  manage  that  ?" 

"I  will  see  Captain  Blanchard  to-morrow;  he  can 
go  Avhere  I  cannot." 

"  And  how  do  you  get  on,  Corbie  ?"  asked  the  mes- 
senger, seating  himself  at  the  table  so  recently  vacated 
by  the  soldiers  and  Loyalists  who  had  surrounded  it,  at 
the  same  time  placing  in  an  inner  pocket  of  his  jacket 
a  packet  which  Corbie  handed  to  him,  with  his  finger 
on  his  lips,  as  if  cautioning  him  to  speak  in  lower 
tones,  though  all  of  the  conversation  just  narrated  had 
been  carried  on  almost  in  a  whisper. 

"Oh,  excellently.  We're  got  four  of  the  guards 
now,  one  of  the  captains  of  McDougal's  regiment,  and 
I  don't  know  how  many  others — Forbes,  you  know,  has 
the  management  of  that." 

"Well,  we  can't  do  anything  without  Yates.  I 
expected  to  have  found  him  here,"  said  the  colonel, 
with  an  air  of  disappointment  and  vexation  combined. 

"I  am  sorry  for  the  sake  of  the  righteous  cause," 
said  Corbie.  "  But  come,  colonel,"  and,  approaching 
nearer  to  him,  he  whispered  something  in  his  ear,  and 
withdrawing  behind  the  bar,  soon  disappeared  beneath 
the  trap  which  led  to  the  cellar,  where  he  kept  his 
famous  "  old  south  side." 

A  low,  peculiar  whistle  from  the  colonel,  who  had 
advanced  to  the  window,  which  he  had  unbarred  and 
thrown  open,  was  answered  by  a  similar  signal,  appa- 


150  MARGARET  MOXCIUEFFE. 

rently  from  the  river,  and,  before  Corbie  had  returned 
from  the  cellar,  half  a  dozen  sturdy  seamen,  dressed  in 
the  blue  of  the  royal  navy,  were  at  the  door,  awaiting 
admission,  for  that  signal  had  called  them  there. 

"  Here  it  is,  colonel,"  said  Corbie,  in  low  tones,  aa 
lie  emerged  from  the  cellar,  cautiously  and  noiselessly 
closing  the  trap  door  after  him,  and  he  laid  upon  the 
table  a  bottle  with  the  familiar  and  highly-prized  seal. 

The  colonel  made  no  reply ;  but  placing  his  finger 
on  his  lips,  pointed  to  the  door,  a  sign  seemingly  we'll 
understood  by  the  landlord,  for  he  proceeded  cautiously 
to  unlock  and  unbar  it,  admitting  the  stalwart  fellows 
who  stood  there  awaiting  entrance. 

"  Give  them  something,"  said  the  colonel,  in  low 
tones,  as  he  proceeded  to  decant  the  generous  wine 
which  Corbie  had  set  before  him,  and  the  ready  land- 
lord, going  behind  the  bar,  produced  glasses  for  each, 
and,  without  asking  what  they  would  have,  poured  for 
them  each  a  tumbler  nearly  full  of  the  "  old  Jamaica.'* 

They  were  in  the  act  of  gulping  it  down,  and  the 
colonel  had  just  raised  his  third  glass  to  his  lips,  when 
a  sound  was  heard  on  the  stairs  which  led  to  the 
second  story,  as  of  scuffling ;  an  oath  or  two  was 
uttered  by  the  parties,  whoever  they  were ;  but  before 
any  one  had  time  to  rise  and  seek  the  cause  of  the 
commotion,  the  door  leading  into  the  bar  was  burst 
open,  and  two  figures  rolled  upon  the  floor. 

One  war  Gilbert  Forbes,  in  a  state  almost  of  nudity ; 


A    SPY   IN  THE   CAMP.  151 

the  other  was  the  young  soldier,  his  bedfellow  ;  but  hia 
head  was  completely  enveloped  in  a  sheet,  and  only  his 
person  was  visible,  as  he  writhed  and  tossed  on  the 
floor  to  which  they  had  rolled,  in  his  frantic  endeavors 
to  free  himself  from  the  grasp  of  his  brawny  opponent, 
and  from  the  covering  which  enshrouded  hia  head. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GOVERNOR  TRYON   OIT   BOABD   SHIP. 

Iv  an  instant  the  young  soldier  was  seized  in  th« 
ready  arms  of  the  boatmen  who  had  entered  the  room 
in  obedience  to  the  signal  from  Colonel  Fanning,  and 
one  of  them,  taking  his  cravat,  bound  his  arms  securely 
behind.  The  sheet  was  then  removed  from  his  head, 
and  before  he  had  time  to  utter  a  word,  and  scarcely  to 
think,  another  of  the  seamen  had  drawn  a  handker- 
chief into  his  mouth,  and,  fastening  it  behind  his  neck, 
he  was  as  thoroughly  prevented  from  making  any  noise 
as  though  a  "  regulation  "  gag  had  been  put  in  his 
mouth. 

Being  thus  effectually  secured,  he  was  released  from 
the  arms  of  his  captors,  and  for  an  instant  glared  about 
him,  his  eyes  actually  flashing  with  rage.  But  he  was 
fairly  trapped,  and  knowing  that  resistance  against 
such  odds,  even  if  he  was  at  liberty  to  make  any, 
would  be  sheer  folly,  he  seated  himself  quietly  in  a 
chair,  or,  rather,  on  the  edge  of  a  chair,  for  the  posi- 
tion of  his  arms  pinioned  behind  him,  prevented  him 
from  occupying  the  seat. 

"That's  right    my  fine  fellow,"   said   the   colonel, 


GOVERNOR  TRYOS  OX  BOARD  SHIP.       153 

n»king  ironically  on  his  helpless  prisoner,  "  make  the 
tast  of  a  bad  bargain.  You  see  what  you  get  by 
meddling  with  what  don't  concern  you,"  and,  seating 
himself  again  at  the  table,  he  proceeded  to  finish  the 
bottle  which  Corbie  had  placed  before  him. 

"  Now,  then,  Corbie,"  he  said,  as  he  drained  his  last 
glass,  "  you  know  what  to  do.  That  letter  for  the  " 

;  but  he  checked  himself  suddenly,  as  if  feeling 

that  he  had  no  right  to  pronounce  Margaret's  name  in 
such  company.  "  Oh,  the  captain — he'll  manage  that, 
I'll  warrant.  Forbes  said  he  was  going  out  to  see 
Mathews  to-day,  eh  ?"  and  he  turned  to  the  gunsmith, 
who  was  standing  at  the  bar,  quietly  sipping  some 
liquor  to  which  he  had  helped  himself  while  the  sea- 
men were  securing  young  Adams. 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  he  said  so  ;  but  I  don't  hardly 
think  he  got  away.  I  saw  him  just  before  sundown,  as 
I  was  coming  along  in  company  with  one  of  Small- 
wood's  officers  and  that  captain  from  McDougal's  regi- 
ment— the  one  as  belongs  to  us." 

"  Somebody  must  go  out  to-morrow.  We  expect 
the  fleet  almost  every  day,  and  we  want  to  get  every- 
thing in  readiness,  so  as  to  act  as  soon  as  Lord  Howe 
arrives.  But  what  are  we  to  do  with  this  smart  young 
man  ?"  continued  the  colonel,  turning  to  Adams,  who 
sat  silent,  of  course,  but  almost  bursting  with  rage  and 
shame  at  being  so  securely  trapped  in  his  own  net. 

"  A  few  days  or  weeks  on  board  the  "Duchess"  won't 
7* 


154  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

hurt  him,  I'm  thinking,"  replied  Forbes,  "He  will 
have  excellent  company  there — there's  lots  of  his  kind 
aboard.  His  excellency,  I  know,  will  treat  him  very 
well." 

"  Come,  then,  my  worthy  rebel,  will  you  go  quietly, 
or  shall  my  fellows  here  help  you?  Take  your 
choice." 

Adams  knew  well  what  sort  of  assistance  he  might 
expect  to  receive  from  the  sailors,  so  he  nodded  his 
head  in  acquiescence  of  the  first  part  of  the  colonel's 
proposition,  and  Corbie  having  poured  out  another 
glass  apiece  for  the  sailors,  which  was  tossed  off  with  a 
bow  and  a  scrape,  the  party  started  to  leave  the  house, 
two  men  taking  each  an  arm  of  the  young  soldier  and 
leading  him  forward,  the  others  following  behind. 

In  this  order  they  reached  the  boat,  a  large  man-of- 
war  cutter,  manned  by  eight  men  ;  and  Adams  having 
been  stowed  in  the  stern-sheets,  within  reach  of  Colonel 
Fanning's  arm,  it  was  shoved  off  silently,  and  the  crew 
pulled  away  very  gently  at  first — so  gently  that  even 
the  dipping  of  the  oars  (which  were  muffled,)  in  the 
water,  was  scarcely  heard  by  the  prisoner. 

"  Now,  my  fine  fellow,"  said  the  colonel,  when  the 
boat  had  reached  nearly  the  middle  of  the  stream,  until 
which  time  not  a  word  had  been  spoken,  "  if  you  make 
the  least  noise,  or  attempt  to  move,  I  shall  have  you 
pitched  overboard  as  sure  as  you  are  there,  now.  You 
understand,  of  course  ?" 


GOVERNOR  TRYOX  ON  BOARD  SHIP.       155 

Adams  nodded  his  head  sullenly,  for  he  had  DO  other 
ch»oe,  and,  at  a  sign  from  the  colonel,  the  men  gave 
way  ui  long,  steady  strokes,  which  sent  the  boat  fairly 
flying  ihrough  the  water.  A  hard  pull  of  two  hours 
brougnc  \hern  alongside  the  "Duchess  of  Gordon,"  the 
flag-shipj.  on  board  which  Governor  Tryon  had  hia 
head-quartwris  then  lying  off  the  present  quarantine 
landing,  and  the  hail  of  the  sentry  having  been  duly 
answered  Lj  Colonel  Fanning,  the  party  ascended  her 
aide,  and  th*  gag  having  been  removed  from  Adams* 
mout)',  and  Ms  arms  set  at  liberty,  he  was  directed  to 
follow  them,,  an  order  with  which  he  complied,  but  of 
course  with  s-ullen  reluctance.  As  he  landed  on  the  deck 
of  the  ship,  C}lonel  Fanning,  turning  to  the  officer  of  the 
watch,  said  :  "  Giv«»  this  man  in  charge  of  the  master- 
at-arus.  Let  him  be  well  treated,  but  well  watched," 
and,  striding  aft,  his  arrival  on  board  was  announced 
by  toe  sentry  at  the  cabin  door,  to  the  captain  and 
Governor  Tryon,  who  were  seated  within. 

The  governor  was  in  the  very  highest  spirits,  for  a 
vessel  had  arrived  that  very  day  which  had  brought  to 
him  a  letter  from  Lord  Germaine,  thanking  him  in  the 
warmest  terms,  in  the  name  of  his  majesty,  for  the 
efficient  aid  he  had  rendered  to  the  cause,  and  hinting 
at  the  probability  of  much  more  substantial  evidence 
of  the  king's  approbation. 

**  Ah  !  colonel — returned,  I  see,"  he  said,  rising,  his 
eountenance  flushed  with  the  wine  he  had  been  drink* 


156  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

ing — for  he  was  noted  for  his  devotion  to  the  best 
things  of  this  life.  "  What  news  from  the  infernal 
rebels?  Are  they  ready  to  lay  dwwn  their  arm? 
and  submit  to  the  clemency  of  our  gracious  sove- 
reign ?" 

"  Hardly  yet,  your  excellency,  I  fear,"  said  the  colo- 
nel, with  a  quiet  smile,  "  though  I  learn  from  our  trusty 
friends  in  the  city,  that  a  great  disaffection  exists  among 
the  troops.  Their  pay  is  never  punctually  given,  and 
their  provisions  of  the  poorest  kind,  with  a  scarcity 
even  of  that,  and  they  are  kept  at  work  day  and  night. 
There  are,  I  am  sure,  many  hundreds  who  will  join  our 
forces  as  soon  as  we  effect  a  landing ;  at  least,  such  is 
the  information  I  gather  from  Forbes  and  Corbie. 

"  But  how  as  to  the  other  matter  ?  What  progress  is 
making  in  that  ?  You  know,  colonel,  that  is  my  scheme, 
and  I  place  great  reliance  upon  the  result,  should  we 
succeed." 

"  Several  of  the  life-guards  of  Mr.  Washington  have 
joined  us,  and  when  a  few  more  are  secured,  the  first 
favorable  opportunity  will  be  seized  to  carry  your  ex- 
cellency's plan  into  operation.  If  successful,  that  will 
crush  the  rebellion  without  doubt,  and  your  excellency 
will  reap  the  well-earned  reward  of  your  devotion  to 
his  majesty. 

"Aye,  aye,"  replied  the  governor,  half  musingly, 
rubbing  his  hands  together ;  for  visions  of  stars  and 
orders  were  dancing  before  him,  as  the  possibility  of 


GOVERNOR  TRYON  ON  BOARD  SHIP.       157 

success  in  his  great  undertaking  crossed  his  mind. 
"  Have  you  brought  any  dispatches  ?" 

"  Yes,  your  excellency,"  replied  the  colonel,  drawing 
from  his  pocket  the  packet  of  papers  delivered  to  him 
by  Corbie.  "  I  have  brought  a  prisoner,  on  board,  cap- 
tain," he  said,  turning  to  Captain  Chiffney,  who,  while 
this  conversation  had  been  going  on,  was  seated  quietly 
sipping  his  wine. 

"  A  prisoner,  colonel,"  said  the  governor,  inquiringly. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  colonel,  laughing  ;  "  he  set  a  trap 
for  us,  and  fell  into  it  himself,"  and  he  proceeded  to  nar- 
rate the  circumstances  connected  with  the  capture  of 
young  Adams. 

"  I  wonder  how  Corbie  found  it  out  ?"  said  the  gene- 
ral, musingly,  but  looking  at  Colonel  Fanning,  as  he 
spoke. 

"  The  notice  came  through  Captain  Blanchard,  from 
some  person  in  General  Putnam's  house." 

"  Margaret,  by !"  profanely  exclaimed  the  gov- 
ernor, bringing  his  fist  on  the  table,  near  which  he  was 
standing,  with  a  force  which  made  the  glasses  jingle. 
"That  girl  is  worth  twenty  common  men ;  she  deserves 
to  be  a  duchess ;"  and  turning  to  the  captain,  he  said  : 
"  Captain  Chiffney,  will  you  be  pleased  to  order  the 
prisoner  to  be  brought  into  the  cabin,  and  meanwhile, 
J  will  read  what  our  friends  have  to  say,"  and  seating 
himself,  he  proceeded  to  open  the  package  brought  by 
Colonel  Fanning,  saying,  as  he  did  so :  "  Colonel,  your 


!C8  MARGABET  MONCRIEFFE. 

faithful  and  arduous  services  are  fully  appreciated,  and 
shall  be  reported  to  Lord  Germaine.  His  majesty,  I  am 
confident,  will  feel  it  a  privilege  to  testify  his  apprecia- 
tion of  such  a  faithful  servant ;"  and  Colonel  Fanning, 
knowing  that  this  meant  "good  night,  I  wish  to  be 
alone,"  bowed  himself  out  of  the  cabin,  and  retired  to 
the  ward-room,  among  the  lieutenants,  where  a  state- 
room had  been  appropriated  to  him.  While  Governor 
Tryon,  the  master  spirit  of  the  daring  and  most  infam- 
ous plot  which  was  ever  conceived  among  civili«ed  men, 
engaged  in  honorable  warfare,  commenced  a  perusal  of 
the  dispatches  which  the  colonel  had  brought. 

They  were  from  Matthews,  the  well-known  tory 
mayor,  who,  through  the  assistance  of  Corbie  and 
Forbes,  was  the  main  and  most  reliable  agent  in  for- 
warding the  desperate  plot  conceived  by  Governor 
Tryon,  upon  the  result  of  which  he  relied  for  a  speedy 
termination  of  the  war. 

There  was,  too,  a  letter  from  Captain  Blanchard,  cor/- 
taining  important  information  which  he  had  gathered 
from  every  conceivable  source,  during  his  social  inter- 
course with  the  provincial  officers,  who,  knowing  him 
only  as  an  officer  on  parole,  and  believing  him  to  be  J» 
gentleman,  were  less  guarded  in  their  conversation  than 
they  would  have  been,  had  they  known  his  true  po- 
sition. 

A  postscript  to  this  officer's  letter,  attracted  specially 
the  attention  of  the  governor.  It  was  dated  several 


GOVERN  OK  TKTOX  ON  BOARD  SHIP.       150 

hours  after  the  main  part  was  written,  and  spoke  of  his 
meeting  his  brother,  whom  he  had  not  seen  for  many 
years,  and  who,  to  his  sorrow,  he  learned,  had  enlisted 
with  the  rebels,  and  was  an  officer  in  Colonel  McDou- 
gal's  regiment.  The  pain  of  the  discovery,  however, 
had  been  mitigated  by  a  meeting,  as  unexpected  as  it 
was  pleasing,  with  Miss  Moncrieffe,  the  daughter  of  the 
well-known  Major  Moncrieffe,  now  with  the  troops  on 
Staten  Island ;  and  he  added,  that  as  the  governor  knew 
the  young  lady  well,  he  need  not  say,  that  she  possessed 
shrewdness,  discretion  and  intelligence  to  a  very  re- 
markable degree,  and  as  she  was  a  most  faithful  and  de- 
voted subject,  he  was  confident  she  would  be  enabled  to 
render  infinite  service  to  the  cause  of  his  gracious  ma- 
jesty. It  was  owing  to  information  imparted  by  her,  the 
writer  added,  that  they  received  the  warning,  without 
which,  all  their  well-laid  plans  might  been  defeated. 

"  By  Jove,  she  shall  be  a  duchess !"  exclaimed  the 
governor,  as  he  finished  the  perusal  of  this  letter,  which 
had  been  written,  of  course,  without  the  knowledge  of 
what  had  transpired  at  Corbie's  on  that  evening,  and 
evidently  in  the  confident  assurance,  that  as  Cor- 
bie had  been  forewarned,  he  was  forearmed  against 
any  treachery,  and  was  prepared  to  disarm  any  sus- 
picion. 

As  he  spoke,  the  cabin  door  was  opened,  and  tho  sen- 
try ushered  in  Seth  Adams,  who  took  his  station  in  front 
of  the  general,  and  who  stood  scowling  sullenly,  alter- 


160  MARGAKET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

nately  at  the  governor  and  Captain  Chiffney,  until  the 
sentry  had  retired. 

"Well,  my  young  rebel,"  said  the  governor,  as  he 
proceeded  leisurely  to  fold  up  the  letters  which  lay  be- 
fore him  on  the  table. 

"  I  am  no  rebel,  sir,"  said  Adams,  advancing  close  to 
.the  table,  and  looking  haughtily  upon  the  treacherous 
governor. 

"  Ah,  indeed !"  and  he  smiled  sarcastically ;  "  perhaps 
you  will  tell  me  what  you  call  yourself?" 

"A  continental  soldier,  ready  to  fight  against  ty- 
ranny, oppression  and  wrong,"  he  replied,  proudly. 

"  Very  prettily  said,"  continued  the  governor ;  and 
as  he  spoke,  Seth  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  letter  of  Cap- 
tain Blanchard,  which  lay  open  before  him,  and  as  his 
quick  eye  caught  the  signature,  he  knew  the  writer  at 
once,  but  nothing  on  his  countenance  betrayed  the  emo- 
tion which  this  discovery,  so  important,  had  excited, 
and  already  he  was  ruminating  upon  the  possibility  of 
making  his  escape,  and  communicating  the  information 
just  acquired,  to  the  friends  of  the  cause  of  liberty 
within  the  city. 

"  Well,  it  is  likely  to  be  some  time  before  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  fighting  against  your  king,  I'm 
thinking,"  said  Tryon,  with  a  sneer. 

"  He  is  not  my  king,"  haughtily  and  sharply  said 
Adams,  interrupting  the  governor,  "  God  forbid." 

**It  is  not  polite,  young  man,"  said  Governor  Tryon 


GOVERN  OK  TETOX  OX  BOARD  SHIP.       161 

with  an  expression  of  the  most  sarcastic  politeness,  "to 
interrupt  a  gentleman  when  he  is  speaking.  I  was  about 
to  say,  that  as  it  would,  in  all  human  probability,  be  a 
long  time  before  you  would  have  an  opportunity  of 
gratifying  your  propensity  for  fighting  against  his  most 
gracious  majesty,  suppose  you  enlist  to  fight  for  him. 
You  know  what  liberal  terms  he  ofiers.  Five  guineas 
bounty,  and  two  hundred  acres  of  land  at  the  close  of 
the  war." 

"  I  think  his  most  gracious  majesty,"  replied  Seth, 
with  a  tone  quite  as  sarcastic  as  the  govereor's,  "  had 
better  keep  his  guineas  for  better  purposes ;  and  per- 
haps, it  would  look  a  little  more  honest,  if  he  was  t& 
On  a  the  land  before  he  ofiers  to  give  it  away." 

"  You  won't  enlist,  then  ?"  asked  the  governor,  his 
countenance  turning  black  with  anger. 

"  Not  for  all  you  expect  to  get  for  betraying  those 
who  trust  in  you,"  proudly  replied  the  undaunted 
youth,  and  as  he  spoke,  the  governor  colored  deeply, 
and  said,  in  angry  tones  : 

"  You  are  a  fool,  and  will  live  to  repent  your  rebel- 
lious conduct  toward  the  kindest  and  best  of  masters. 
You  can  retire  now,  unless  you  change  your  mind,  and 
choose  to  give  me  some  information  as  to  what  is  going 
on  hi  the  rebel  army." 

"  I  only  know  that  orders  have  been  issued  to  erect 
a  gallows  for  Governor  Tryon,  when  they  catch  him," 
was  the  reply,  delivered  slowly  by  the  undaunted  sol- 


162  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

dier,  accompanied  by  a  gaze,  which  brought  the  now 
enraged  governor  to  his  feet. 

"  You  insolent  hound !"  he  exclaimed,  "  I'll  have  you 
flogged  to  death  if  you  utter  another  such  impertinent, 
treasonable  word." 

"  That  would  suit  you  exactly.  Go  on,  sir,  and  have 
me  flogged.  Do  you  think  I  should  love  his  most  gra- 
cious majesty  any  the  more  for  it  ?  Try  it,  sir  ;"  and 
the  bold  youth  looked  undauntedly  at  the  governor, 
who  stood  before  him,  actually  trembling  with 
rage. 

He  made  no  reply ;  but  touching  a  bell  on  the  table, 
said  to  the  sentry  who  entered:  "Take  this  young 
rebel  below,  and  see  that  he  is  properly  secured." 

"  You'd  better  have  it  well  done,  governor ;  for  I 
shall  escape  if  I  can.  I  won't  give  my  word  of  honor, 
as  that  precious  scoundrel  has" — and  he  pointed  to 
Captain  Blanchard's  letter — "  and  then  break  it ;"  and 
.OH  he  spoke,  he  turned  away,  and  followed  the  sentry 
from  the  cabin,  and  was  conducted  below,  where  he 
was  taken  charge  of  by  the  master-at-arms,  and  hia 
hands  and  feet  being  securely  manacled,  he  was  left  in 
the  "  brig  "*  to  naourn  his  misfortunes. 

"  That  young  rebel  knows  too  much,  Captain  Chiff- 
ney,"  said  the  governor,  seating  himself,  and  wiping 
the  perspiration  from  his  ruddy  face.  "  He  must  be 

*  The  "  brig,"  on  board  men-of-war,  is  a  space  near  the  foremast, 
allotted  to  prisoners  who  are  ordered  in  irons  for  any  offence. 


GOVERNOR  TRYON  ON  BOARD  SHIP.       163 

closely  guarded,  for  if  he  should  escape,  all  our  plans 
would  be  foiled." 

"  He  shall  be  well  guarded,"  replied  the  captain  ; 
and  the  governor  having  passed  to  him  the  letters 
which  he  had  received  through  Colonel  Fanning,  he 
commenced  their  perusal,  while  tne  latter  renewed  his 
devotions  to  the  bottle. 


CHAFFER  XV. 

THE  BROTHERS  IN  COUNCIL. 

**  EDMUND,  my  dear,  dear  brother,"  exclaimed  the 
Royalist  captain,  as,  still  pushing  him  off  at  arm's 
length,  he  peered  lovingly  in  his  brother's  face- — "  how 
strange  that  we  should  meet  here,  and  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. Captain  Barnum  !"  and  he  turned  to  the 
spot  where  the  gallant  Maryland  captain  had  stood  but 
a  few  seconds  before  ;  but  with  true  Southern  chivalry 
and  nobility,  he  had  left  the  apartment  the  moment  he 
saw  that  the  brothers,  so  long  severed,  had  recognized 
each  other. 

"  My  dear  Edmund,"  said  Arthur  Blanchard,  turn- 
ing again  to  his  brother,  "  how  is  it  I  find  you  here  ? 
You,  the  son  of  a  gallant  and  honored  officer,  serving 
against  your  king  and  country !" 

"  Oh,  never  mind  king  and  country  now,"  said  the 
younger  of  the  twain,  loosing  himself  from  his  brother's 
grasp.  "  Tell  me  of  home — dear  father  and  mother — 
Lucy  ? — is  she  alive  ?" 

"  My  dear  boy,"  the.  elder  brother  replied,  placing 
bis  hand  on  his  shoulder  as  he  spoke,  "  we  are  alone  in 


THE  BROTHERS  IN   COUNCIL.  165 

tLe  world.  Father,  mother,  Alice,  and  Lucy  have 
passed  away,  and  I " 

"  And  you  are  the  elder  brother,  and  of  course  the 
heir  " 

"  Dear  Edmund,  don't  speak  of  that ;  my  only  in- 
heritance is  my  sword.  Everything  which  became 
mine  when  I  felt  I  was  alone  in  the  world — for  you 
know  it  is  many  years  since  any  tidings  have  been 
heard  of  you — was  sold  to  purchase  my  commission  as 
a  corn3t.  I  have  fought  my  way  from  a  cometcy  to  a 
captain's  commission,  and — but  you,  Edmund  " 

"  Oh,  never  mind  me,  Arthur.  Father,  mother, 
sisters — all  dead,"  repeated  the  young  man,  mourn- 
fully, as,  withdrawing  his  hand  from  that  of  his  brother, 
he  placed  it  across  his  eyes,  to  conceal  the  tears  which 
moistened  them. 

"  But  how  is  it,  Edmund,  that  I  find  you  here  ? 
You,  the  son  of  a  brave  and  loyal  subject  as  ever  lived, 
in  arms  against  his  sovereign.  I  ask  and  demand  an 
answer." 

"  Ask  me  no  questions,  Arthur,"  responded  the 
younger  of  the  twain,  with  an  expression  of  sadness. 

"  I  must  ask  you — I  will  ask  you — and,  as  your  elder 
brother,  I  am  entitled  to  an  answer.  Do  not  let  me 
blush  in  the  reflection  that  a  Blanchard  has  thus  dis- 
graced his  name." 

'*  Arthur,  I  am  not  what  I  seem  to  be  ;  I  have  not  for- 
gotten  my  father  nor  his  loyalty ;  I  have  not  forgotten 


186  MAKGAEET  MONCRLEFFE. 

that  I  was  born  a  subject  of  the  best  of  sovereigns— 
yes,  Arthur,  I  did  forget  it  once.  Carried  away  by  the 
enthusiasm  which  pervaded  all  classes,  I  suffered  my  sell 
to  be  drawn  into  " 

"An  act  of  rebellion,"  interrupted  the  Loyalist, 
sternly.  "Edmund  Blanchard,  I  did  not  think  I 
should  live  to  blush  for  my  own  brother." 

"  Oh,  Arthur,  do  not  reproach  me ;  the  sight  of 
you,  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years,  brings  back 
so  many  memories,  I  would  not  have  them  marred 
by  harsh  words  from  you.  Spare  my  feelings  now, 
but »  — 

"  Feelings,  Edmund  !  You  are  nearly  thirty  years 
of  age,  if  I  recollect  aright ;  and  surely  the  son  of 
Miles  Blanchard  ought,  at  that  age,  to  know  what  is 
his  duty  to  his  king  and  country." 

"  Arthur  " — and  Edmund  approached  close  to  his 
elder  brother,  bending  his  head  so  as  to  bring  his 
mouth  close  to  his  brother's  ear,  and  speaking  in  whis- 
pered tones — "  I  am  not  what  I  seem  to  be." 

"  As  how  ?"  coolly  inquired  the  Royalist. 

"  I  am  with  you,  for  you,  with  all  my  heart  and  soul.'* 

"And  still  wearing  that  uniform?"  and  he  pointed 
to  the  dress  of  the  speaker,  the  uniform  of  Colonel 
McDougal's  regiment. 

"Yes,  and  still  wearing  this  uniform,  Arthur,  my 
brother.  I  committed  a  great  wrong  when  I  forgot 
my  father  and  his  people ;  and  I  committed  a  greatei 


THE   BKOTIIEES   IN   COUNCIL.  167 

*rong  when  I  joined  those  who  war  against  a  gracious 
sovereign ;  but,"  and  he  looked  exultingly  as  he  spoke, 
•'  I  have  repaired  all  those  wrongs." 

The  Royalist  looked  searchingly  at  his  brother,  but 
made  no  reply,  and  he  continued : 

"  I  have  joined  the  king's  party  here,"  and  he  looked 
in  his  brother's  face  for  approbation. 

"  Are  you,  then,"  he  asked,  scanning  Edmund  from 
head  to  foot,  "the  captain  in  McDougal's  regiment, 
who,  it  is  asserted,  has  been  won  over  to  the  king's 
cause  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  Arthur,  what  you  mean." 

*'  Simply,  that  I  know  everything  which  transpires  in 
the  city,  Edmund.  I  am  more  than  sorry  that  you  ever 
so  far  forgot  what  was  due  to  your  name  and  family, 
as  to  forsake  the  allegiance  you  owed  to  your  right- 
ful sovereign,  but  I  am  proud  to  welcome  you  back  to 
the  cause  of  truth  and  justice.  These  rebellious  scoun- 
drels must  be  crushed ;  and,  Edmund,  every  one  who 
has  taken  part  in  restoring  to  the  crown  the  colonies 
which  are  rightfully  its  dependencies,  will  not  be  for- 
gotten. You  have  made  me  very  happy  by  what  you 
have  said,  and  now  I  will  tell  you  " 

But  his  sentence  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
Captain  Barnum,  who,  thinking  that  the  brothers  had 
enjoyed  ample  opportunity  of  exchanging  fraternal 
greetings,  had  opened  the  door,  and  addressing  them, 
said  : 


168  MARGAKET  MOXCBIEFFB. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  if  you  have  finished  yonr  self-irv 
troduction,  may  I  come  in  ?" 

"  By  all  means,"  exclaimed  the  brothers,  in  a  breath  ; 
and  the  Royalist  advancing  with  extended  hand,  which 
was  promptly  grasped  by  the  warm-hearted  southerner, 
said :  "  Captain  Barnum,  I  hope  I  shall  one  day  be  ena- 
bled to  thank  you  for  the  delicate  and  courteous  treat- 
ment I  have  received  at  your  hands  this  day,  and  for 
the  kind  and  considerate  manner  in  which  you 
have  brought  me  face  to  face  with  my  wayward 
brother." 

"Don't  call  him  wayward,"  said  Captain  Barnum, 
smiling.  "  He  is  a  perfect  martinet.  You  know  his 
regiment  does  not  bear  the  best  reputation  for  discipline 
or  efficiency,  and  he  has  made  himself  terribly  unpo- 
pular by  trying  to  redeem  its  character,  so  far  as  his 
company  is  concerned.  He  is  a  thorough  disciplinarian, 
I  assure  yon.  But  come,  now,  drop  all  ceremony,  and 
do  the  pair  of  you  honor  us  by  dining  with  our  mess, 
to-day.  Remember,  however,"  and  he  turned,  with  an 
arch  look,  to  either  brother,  "  we  don't  allow  any  dis- 
cussion of  religious,  political  or  military  subjects." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  the  royalist  captain,  with  a 
meaning  smile,  "that  you  rather  circumscribe  your 
j^uests  in  their  range  of  discussion." 

"Well,  on  these  occasions  we  do,  even  between 
brothers.  Come,  what  do  you  say ;  will  you  dine  with 


THE   BROTHERS   IX   COUNCIL.  169 

11  With  all  my  heart,"  said  the  Royalist.  "  But  for  the 
tand  courtesy  of  my  enemies  " 

"  N"ot  your  enemies,  captain,"  interrupted  Captain 
Barnum ;  "  we  are  only  the  enemies  to  the  principles 
you  advocate  and  support.  No  one  who  knows  you, 
could  be  your  enemy." 

The  Royalist  captain  bowed  low  to  this  compliment, 
•md  the  color  on  his  bronzed  cheeks  was  heightened  as 
he  heard  these  words,  for  his  conscience  told  him,  that 
he  did  not  deserve  such  courtesy  and  such  confidence 
from  his  host. 

"  It  will  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  accept  your  hos- 
pita^ty,''  replied  the  Royalist  Blanchard ;  and  Captain 
Barnum  who  had  noticed  the  flush  which  had  come  to 
his  face,  and  who  thought  that  it  had  been  called  there 
by  his  words,  which  might  imply  something  of  a  taunt, 
as  well  as  a  compliment,  hastily  said : 

"  My  dear  captain,  don't  mind  what  I  say,  for  you 
must  be  conscious  I  had  no  intention  pf  wounding  your 
feelings.  Dine  with  us,  to-day,  and  we  will  try  and 
make  you  forget  the  misfortunes  which  the  chances  of 
war  have  brought  upon  you." 

' '  I  ought  hardly  to  call  it  a  misfortune  which  has 
thrown  me  into  such  company,  and  led  to  such  an  unex- 
pected  pleasure,"  and  he  turned  to  his  younger  brother, 
with  a  look  of  deep  affection. 

"  Come,  Edmund,"  he  continued,  addressing  hia 
brother,  we  will  take  a  stroll,  and  return  in  time  to  ao 
8 


17C  MARGARET   MONCBIEFFK. 

cept  our  kind  friend's  hospitality,"  and  with  courteous 
greetings,  the  brothers  took  their  leave,  strolling  up 
Broadway,  arm-in-arm. 

"  Now  let  me  finish  the  sentence  which  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  entrance  of  Captain  Barnum.  1  was 
going  to  tell  you  that  I  have  been  in  direct  communi- 
cation with  his  excellency,  Governor  Tryon,  and  his 
honor,  our  loyal  Mayor  Matthews,  ever  since  I  arrived 
in  the  city.  I  must  see  Matthews  to-day,  or  send  word 
to  him,  by  some  means.  Everything  goes  on  to  our 
heart's  content,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  thousands  will  eagerly  join  our  forces  as  soon  as  a 
landing  has  been  effected ;  and  if  the  other  part  of  the 
plot,  now  in  progress  from  day-to-day,  is  carried  to 
consummation,  the  war  will  be  ended  before  six  weeks 
are  over." 

"The  other  part  of  the  plot!"  echoed  the  younger 
of  the  twain,  looking  at  his  brother  with  an  expression 
of  surprise. 

"  Yes,  Edmund,  the  other  part  which,  if  carried  to 
successful  consummation,  will  stem  this  torrent  of  re- 
bellion, terminate  the  war  at  once,  bring  these  rebel- 
lious Colonies  again  to  their  allegiance,  and  restore  them 
to  their  rightful  sovereign.  It  is  not  ripe  enough 
yet  even  for  you  to  know,  Edmund ;  but,  if  as 
you  say,  you  are  heart  and  soul  with  us,  you  will 
not  hesitate  to  lend  your  aid  if  you  should  be  called 
upon." 


THE  BROTHERS   IN   COUNCIL.  Ill 

"  Anything  to  prove  my  loyalty,  and  mate  amends 
for  having  forgotten  my  name  and  my  duty." 

*'  Edmund,  you  can  call  on  Miss  Moncriefie  with  less 
suspicion  than  myself,  as  you  belong  to  the  other  side," 
and  he  smiled  meaningly. 

"  What,  that  young  girl  who  has  turned  the  head  of 
every  officer  who  saw  her  last  night  ?  I  have  heard 
nothing  this  morning  but  Miss  Moncrieffe,  and  as  for 
Shee's  boys,  I  don't  know  but  there  will  be  fighting 
yet  among  them  about  her." 

"  So  much  the  better.    You  don't  know  her  ?" 

"  I  have  never  seen  her ;  but  must  confess  my  curi- 
osity is  excited  concerning  her.  Is  she  so  very  beau- 
tiful ?» 

"  Very  beautiful,  very  fascinating,  and  very  witty 
but  above  all,  shrewd  and  observing,  far  beyond  he* 
years.  Why,  it  was  only  this  morning  she  gave  me  in- 
formation that  Corbie's  house  was  to  be  visited  to- 
night by  a  provincial  in  disguise,  to  discover  what  was 
going  on.  I  have  caused  him  to  be  put  on  his  guard, 
though  there  won't  be  much  made  of  it,  I'm  think- 
ing." 

"  How,  in  the  name  of  goodness,  did  she  find  it 
out  ?" 

"  Oh,  she  is  an  inmate  of  General  Putnam's  family — 
a  general  favorite — and,  being  unsuspected,  everything 
is  spoken  of  before  her  with  perfect  freedom.  To- 
morrow I  will  introduce  her  to  you,  and  let  her  know 


172  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFTK. 

how  )rou  stand  affected.  Now,  Edmund,  remember — • 
in  company,  be  more  than  guarded ;  for  the  world, 
don't  let  a  breath  of  suspicion  attach  to  either  of  us. 
Now  let  us  talk  of  old  times,"  and  the  conversation 
•was  turned  into  topics  of  home,  parents,  friends,  atid 
relatives,  and  thus  the  time  was  beguiled  until  the  ap- 
proach of  the  hour  which  was  fixed  for  their  dinner  at 
Captain  Barnum's  quarters. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MARGARET  AND  HER  LOVER  AT  HOME. 

ON  the  morning  after  the  call  made  by  Captain 
Blanchard  on  Margaret,  and  which  had  led  to  such  im- 
portant results,  so  far  at  least  as  the  safety  of  those 
who  were  conspiring  against  the  provincials  was  con- 
cerned,  Major  Burr  was  seated  in  the  apartment  set 
apart  by  General  Putnam  for  the  transaction  of  all 
official  business  and  the  reception  of  reports. 

His  chair  was  drawn  up  before  a  large  circular  table, 
filled  with  letters,  reports,  and  a  miscellaneous  collec. 
tion  of  documents,  from  an  application  from  some  lo}& 
alist  for  permission  to  cross  the  river  to  Long  Island, 
to  a  complaint  (anonymous  of  course)  against  some 
one  of  the  same  stamp  for  some  offence,  either  by  word 
or  deed,  against  the  strict  orders  promulgated  by  the 
bluff  old  general,  on  receiving  command  of  the  city 
during  the  absence  of  General  Washington.  It  was 
his  duty  to  open  these — to  note  their  contents  on  their 
backs  (when  worthy  such  attention),  and  to  receive 
and  execute  the  orders  of  the  general  respecting  them. 
He  knew  his  commander  so  well,  he  rarely  waited  for 
instructions ;  but,  in  most  instances,  had  his 


174  MARGAKET   MOXCRIEFFB. 

prepared  before  he  made  his  appearance,  and  they  were 
invariably  signed  after  the  briefest  possible  glance  at 
their  contents ;  such  was  the  general's  confidence  in 
the  activity,  integrity,  and  capability  of  his  youthful 
aid. 

He  was  about  commencing  the  duties  of  the  morn- 
ing, when  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door  aroused  him,  and  in 
answer  to  his  gruff  "  Come  in,"  uttered  as  if  he  was 
ordering  a  charge  of  infantry,  it  was  opened  very 
softly,  and  a  voice,  whose  tones  thrilled  through  every 
fibre  of  his  frame,  uttered  quietly,  "  May  I  come 
in?" 

Springing  from  his  seat  as  those  dear  and  familiar 
tones  met  his  ear,  he  advanced  toward  the  door,  and, 
grasping  the  extended  hand  of  the  intruder,  led  her  to 
a  seat  at  the  table. 

It  was  Margaret,  who,  throwing  herself  languidly 
and  half  pettishly  into  a  chair,  said :  "  I  really  beg  par- 
don, Major  Burr  ;  but " and  here  she  paused  as 

she  met  his  glance,  for  it  seemed  to  say  : 

"  We  are  alone,  and  why  do  you  call  me  Major 
Burr  ?» 

"  Aaron,"  she  said,  stretching  her  hand  across  the 
table,  "  1  do  beg  your  pardon — I  did  not  mean  to  dis- 
turb you  ;  but  I  Avas  so  very  lonesome.  Cousin  Belle 
is  in  the  kitchen,  Cousin  Martha  is  somewhere  else,  and 
Lady  Putnam  is  knitting.  I  can't  spin-p-I  won't  knit, 
and  so  I  am  here.  May  I  stay  ?** 


MABGARET   AXD   HER   LOVER   AT   HOME.  175 

"Dear  Margaret,"  replied  the  young  soldier,  hia 
very  soul  beaming  in  his  eyes,  and,  seizing  the  ex- 
tended hand  of  his  beautiful  and  loved  visitor — "  how 
can  you  ask  ?  Stay  here — only  stay  forever,  and  " 

"There,  Aaron,"  she  interrupted,  "that  will  do  for 
Colonel  Shee  or  his  gallant  officers.  I  don't  want  such 
language  as  that  from  you." 

"  Then  stay  as  long  as  you  choose,  dear  Margaret, 
and  make  me  happy." 

"  I  will  do  anything  to  make  you  happy,  Aaron,  and 
BO  I  will  stay,"  and,  withdrawing  her  hand — not,  how- 
ever, until  it  had  been  awfully  squeezed  and  several 
kisses  imprinted  upon  it — she  continued :  "  but  you 
must  not  be  quite  so  ceremonious." 

"  Well,  I  won't,"  he  replied,  and  rising,  as  if  for  the 
purpose  of  searching  for  some  papers,  he  approached 
her,  and  leaning  over,  imurinted  a  kiss  upon  her  snowy 
brow,  and,  encourasred  bv  her  passiveness,  for  she  made 
no  resistance  to  him.  a  second  was  implanted  directly 
on  her  tempting  lips. 

"  There,  that  will  do,  Aaron,"  she  said,  pushing  him 
gentlv  awav.  "I  came  here  to  work — may  I  heln 
yon  '•"» 

"  Oh.  ves.  sit  here  and  look  at  me  ;  I  want  no  better 
help  than  that.  But  Marcraret.  if  you  really  wish  to 
stav  here.  I  must  imc-ow  one  condition  on  you.  Look 
here."  and  he  oointed  to  a  mass  of  papers  strewed 
over  the  table,  "  these  must  all  be  opened  and  attended 


170  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

to  before  the  general  comes,  and  if  I  am  to  do  it,  yon 
mast  maintain  profound  silence." 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  she  said,  with  a  mischievous  pout, 
which  more  than  half  tempted  the  young  aid  to  repeat 
his  salutations  to  her  lips,  "I  suppose  you  think  I 
can't  be  silent.  Come,  sir,  give  me  some  paper  and 
lend  me  one  of  your  pens.  I  can  amuse  myself  if  I 
can't  entertain  you." 

"  You  are  a  tormenting  little  vixen,"  said  the  major, 
as  he  pushed  the  paper  toward  her,  and  tendered  to  hex 
a  pen,  whose  nib  he  had  just  clipped,  for  steel  pens 
were  then  unknown. 

Margaret  made  no  reply,  but  commenced  writing,  or 
seeming  to  write,  while  Major  Burr,  with  a  tremendous 
effort,  strove  to  forget  her  presence,  and  resumed  the 
duties  which  her  entrance  had  interrupted. 

He  was  soon,  apparently,  immersed  in  an  examina- 
tion  of  a  mass  of  papers  which  lay  before  him,  while 
Margaret,  having  appropriated  the  paper  placed  before 
ner,  was  soon  as  apparently  engrossed  in  the  letter 
which  she  proposed  to  write. 

For  a  few  moments,  either  pen  wandered  over  the 
paper  with  wonderful  rapidity ;  at  length,  there 
seemed  to  be  a  pause,  by  mutual  consent ;  the  motions 
of  the  pens  grew  less  rapid;  then  they  ceased  en- 
tirely, and  as  each  raised  their  eyes  to  discover  the 
cause  of  this  remarkable  unanimity  of  purpose,  thei* 
glances  encountered  each  pther. 


MAEGARET  AND    HER   LOVER   AT   HOME.  177 

Margaret  threw  down  her  pen,  with  a  merry,  hearty 
laugh,  which  fairly  i  ang  through  the  room  ;  indeed,  it 
was  so  loud  and  so  earnest,  Major  Burr,  fearing  she 
would  arouse  the  household,  arose,  and  approaching  her 
stopped  her  mouth  with  his  own,  a  proceeding  against 
which  she  offered  no  resistance;  probably,  because  she 
had  been  so  weakened  by  her  laughter,  she  was  incapa- 
ble of  any. 

"  Dear  Margaret,"  said  the  young  soldier,  as  he  stood 
by  her  side,  one  of  her  hands  clasped  in  his  own,  gazing 
into  her  beautiful  face  with  an  expression  of  the  most 
intense  love,  "  how  I  do  love  you !" 

"  I  need  not  say  how  I  love  you,  Aaron,"  she  said, 
returning  his  gaze  with  a  warmth  equal  to  his  own ; 
"  but  oh,  what  will  come  of  it  ?"  and  burying  her  face 
in  her  hands,  she  gave  way  to  thoughts  that  seemed  to 
overpower  her. 

"Dear,  darling,  what" but  he  had  no  time  to 

finish  his  sentence,  for  well-known  steps  ascending  the 
stairs  which  led  to  the  office,  warned  him  of  the  ap- 
proach of  General  Putnam,  and  hastily  snatching  an- 
other kiss,  he  sprang  back  to  his  seat,  and  commenced 
looking  over  the  mass  of  papers  before  him,  while  Mar- 
garet, brushing  away  a  tear  which  had  gathered  in  her 
eye,  returned  to  her  pen,  and  before  the  door  was 
opened,  was  again  deeply  engrossed  in  the  composition 
of  her  letter,  as  was  Major  Burr  in  the  perusal  of  the 
documents  which  it  was  his  duty  to  overlook. 
8* 


178  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFK. 

"  Young  lady,"  said  the  bluff  old  general,  as  he  en- 
tered the  room,  and  saw  the  posture  of  affairs,  "  how 
long  since  you  have  been  my  aid  ?" 

"  Ever  since  you  have  been  my  grandpa,"  she  re- 
plied, rising,  and  approaching  him,  with  extended  hand, 
which,  in  very  spite  of  himself,  he  took.  "Fact  is, 
grandpa,"  she  continued,  with  a  bewitching  smile,  "  I 
can't  spin,  and  I  won't  knit,  so  I  came  down  here,  and 
Major  Burr  was  so  kind  as  to  let  me  sit  at  his  table  and 
write  a  few  letters,  I  was  so  lonesome  upstairs." 

"Well,  well,"  he  said,  smilingly,  though  he  tried  to 
look  dignified  and  stern,  "  write  away ;  there,  sit  down," 
he  added. 

Margaret  thanked  him  with  a  graceful  courtesy,  and 
a  smile  whose  power  was  almost  irresistible. 

"Now,  major,  what  is  the  report  from  Corbie's?" 
he  added,  as  Margaret,  seating  herself,  resumed  her  pen. 

"  I  declare,"  replied  the  aid,  pulling  out  his  watch, 
"  it's  ten  o'clock.  I  ordered  Adams  to  report  by  nine, 
and  he  is  a  man  on  whom  I  can  rely,  as  I  can  upon  my- 
self." 

"  Not  here  yet,  Major  Burr !"  continued  the  general, 
with  military  sternness.  "Nine  o'clock  means  nine 
o'clock,  sir.  Why  has  he  not  been  here,  if  you  ordered 
him  to  report  at  that  hour  ?» 

"  I  will  send  and  ascertain  at  once,  sir ;"  and  without 
further  remark,  he  went  to  the  door,  and  summoning 
an  orderly,  directed  him  to  have  word  sent  to  Badlam'a 


MARGARET   AXD    HER   LOVEE   AT   HOME.  179 

Battery,  where  he  was  stationed,  for  Seth  Adams  to  re- 
port himself  immediately,  at  head-quarters. 

General  Putnam  appeared  to  be  very  much  vexed  at 
the  failure  of  the  man  to  report  at  the  time  specified, 
and  seating  himself,  commenced  a  series  -of  character- 
istic grumblings,  to  which  Major  Burr,  thoroughly  fami- 
liar with  his  character  and  humors,  replied  only  by  a 
quiet  smile,  as  he  kept  on  overlooking  the  papers  be* 
fore  him. 

"  There,  general,"  he  said,  handing  another  letter  to 
his  general,  "  that  is  in  the  same  hand-writing  as  the 
one  we  received  a  few  days  ago." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  replied  the  old  soldier,  glancing  at  the 
letter,  and  throwing  it  down  on  the  table,  so  that  it  lay 
directly  in  front  of  Margaret,  who,  apparently  without 
raising  her  eyes  from  her  own  letter,  perused  its  con- 
tents. The  letter  was  brief,  and  evidently  written  in  a 
disguised  hand,  and  ran  as  follows : 

"  I  have  warned  you  before — I  warn  you  again.  There  are 
spies  about,  of  whom  you  little  dream.  Trust  no  one,  but 
watch  tor  yourself.  A  FBIEND  TO  THE  THTIE  CAUSE." 

"  How  are  the  works  going  on,  major  ?"  he  said,  ap- 
parently forgetting  the  trifling  annoyance  which  had 
aroused  his  ire  a  few  moments  before. 

"  Oh,  bravely,  sir,  bravely.  The  line  is  almost  com- 
pleted on  both  sides  of  the  island,  and  a  few  days  moro 
a*  such  work  will  render  a  lauding  impossible,  for  I  bo 


180  MARGARET  MONCBIEFFB. 

lieve  no  point  is  ieft  unguarded.  The  works  on  Rich 
mond  Hill  have  not  been  pushed  forward  so  rapidly  as 
the  others  nearer  the  river,  as  Colonel  Putnam  did  not 
deem  them  to  be  of  so  much  immediate  importance." 

"  Well,  major,  get  through  those  papers  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  then  ride  out  to  the  Hill,  and  order  those 
works  completed  immediately;  General  Washington 
will  return  from  Philadelphia  in  a  few  days,  and  I  wish 
to  have  everything  completed  before  he  arrives.  I  am 
going  now  to  General  Mifflin's  quarters.  There  is  to  be 
a  council  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  when  I  return,  I  shall 
hope  to  receive  the  report  of  your  man.  (rood  day, 
major — good  morning,  Miss  Aid,"  he  added,  turning  to 
Margaret,  who  appeared  to  be  so  deeply  engrossed  in 
her  writing,  as  not  to  notice  his  remark,  and  it  was 
therefore  repeated  in  louder  tones:  "Good  morning, 
Miss  Aid ;  I  think  you  had  better  retire,  for  I  am  afraid 
the  major  won't  accomplish  much  if  you  remain  here." 

"  Do  I  disturb  you,  Major  Burr  ?"  she  asked  with  a 
mischievous  glance,  which  he  alone  caught  and  inter- 
preted. 

"  Xot  at  all,  so  long  as  you  keep  your  promise  not  to 
talk." 

"Xot  to  talk!"  said  the  old  general,  with  a  loud 
guffaw ;  "  a  girl  not  talk !  Well,  major,  if  you  can 
make  her  do  that,  I  give  up  to  you." 

"  Good  morning,  grandpa,"  said  Margaret,  demurely, 
rising,  and  making  a  low  courtesy. 


MARGARET  AND   HER  LOVER   AT   HOME.  181 

"  Major,  you  had  better  turn  that  girl  out  of  the 
room,"  said  the  general,  good-naturedly,  as  he  strode 
toward  the  door.  "  I  shall  be  back  between  twelve  and 
one  o'clock,"  and  as  the  door  closed  upon  the  retreating 
form,  Margaret  and  the  young  aid  exchanged  glances 
full  of  meaning,  for  they  said,  as  looks  would  say,  "  I 
am  glad  we  are  alone  again." 

"  Come,  Aaron,  go  on  with  your  work,  and  don't  dis- 
turb me  again,"  said  Margaret,  maliciously,  resuming 
her  pen,  and  bending  again  to  her  task.  "  Remember 
what  the  general  said,  and  we  will  see  whose  fault  it  is 
if  the  work  is  not  done." 

Major  Burr  looked  for  an  instant  at  his  tormentress, 
but  her  head  was  bent  over  her  paper,  and  he  could  not 
catch  her  eyes.  For  a  moment  or  two  he  indulged  in 
this  profitless  occupation,  then,  with  a  deep  sigh,  took 
up  a  letter  which  lay  nearest  to  him,  and  opened  it  me- 
chanically. 

Perhaps  the  contents  were  very  interesting  ;  perhaps 
he  was  engrossed  in  his  own  thoughts ;  perhaps  any- 
thing the  reader  chooses  ;  but  before  he  was  aware  of 
it,  a  pair  of  soft  arms  were  around  his  neck,  and  a  pair 
of  very  soft  lips  were  pressed  on  his  forehead ;  and  as 
he  felt  this  touch,  he  dropped  his  pen  as  if  struck  by  an 
electric  shock,  and  turning  his  face  upward,  met  the 
ardent,  passionate,  loving  gaze  of  Margaret. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

THE     FIRST     TEMPTATIOW. 

**Yoti  love 'me,  Aaron?"  she  murmured,  as  she 
Buffered  his  arms  to  clasp  her  waist,  and  met  his  burn- 
ing glances  fixed  upon  her. 

"  Better  than  my  life — my  soul — my  all." 

"  Oh,  Aaron,"  murmured  Margaret,  and  she  seated 
herself,  while  her  eyes  were  half  filled  with  tears, 
'*  where  is  this  to  end  ?" 

"  End,  Margaret  ?  Why,  darling,  it  has  not  begun 
yet,"  he  replied,  with  a  bright,  happy  smile. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  but,  Aaron,  I  have  thought  very  much 
since  yesterday — yes,  ever  since  I  came  here — where 
is  this  to  end?" 

"  I  really  don't  know  what  you  mean,  Margaret," 
s«iid  the  young  soldier,  leaning  back  in  his  chair,  and 
gazing  at  his  companion  in  amazement.  "Are  you 
already  sorry  for  what  you  have  said  or  heard  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  no — not  sorry,  Aaron,"  she  hastily  inter- 
rupted, bending  upon  him  a  look  full  of  love.  "  But 
think  (for  we  must  think),  why  did  we  ever  meet? 
Why  did  T  ever  act  and  speak  as  I  have  done?  Oh, 


THE   FIEST  TEMPTATTOX.  183 

Aaron,  what  must  you  think  of  me — what  must  I — 
•what  ought  I  to  think  of  myself?" 

"Surely,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  said  Major  Burr,  rising, 
with  an  appearance  of  coolness  in  his  manner.  But 
Margaret  did  not  permit  him  to  finish  his  sentence, 
for  springing  forward,  she  threw  herself  upon  his  neck, 
and  murmured  : 

"  Dear  Aaron,  don't  speak  so  coldly."  He  was  van- 
quished a  second  time.  "  No,  Aaron,  I  only  feared  for 
the  future.  Think — you  are  engaged  against  those 
with  whom  I  am  connected  by  every  tie  of  honor,  duty, 
and  affection.  How  can  it  be  that  we  ever  shall  be 
happy  under  such  circumstances  ?" 

"  Would  not  my  Margaret  make  any  sacrifice  for 
him  she  loves  ?" 

"  I  would  consider  nothing  a  sacrifice,  Aaron.  But 
how  can  it  be?  My  family  are  proud,  haughty,  and 
wealthy,  and  they  would  disown  and  spurn  me  if  I 
should  unite  myself  with  one  of  a  nation  whom  they 
Lave  learned  to  look  on  as  traitors  and  rebels.  Nay, 
Aaron,  do  not  frown  on  me  so,  for  it  is  not  Margaret 
who  says  it.  I  am  ready  to  say,  and  thus  prove  my 
sincerity,  '  thy  home  shall  be  my  home,  and  thy  God 
my  God.'  " 

u  Thanks,  thanks,  my  dearest  Margaret,"  replied  the 
impassioned  lover,  gazing  with  enamored  looks  upou 
the  beautiful  and  animated  girl  who  stood  before  him. 
;'  I  trust  not  to  demand  any  such  sacrifice  of  you,  for 


184  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFB. 

this  unnatural  war  cannot  endure  much  longer.  I  feel 
confident  in  the  success  of  our  arms,  and  though  your 
family  may  be  proud,  haughty,  and  wealthy,  I  shall  be 
enabled  to  place  you  in  a  position  which  will  make 
you  the  equal  of  any  in  this  country." 

"  I  ask  no  position  higher  than  to  be  yours — nothing 
but  your  love  and  your  presence  to  make  me  supremely 
happy.  Look  you,  Aaron,"  and  she  gazed  at  her  lover 
with  an  earnestness  which  fairly  fascinated  him,  "  situ- 
ated as  we  are  now,  one  of  us  must  make  a  great 
sacrifice,  or  we  must  part." 

"  Part,  Margaret !"  and  the  young  aid  started ; 
"part.  And  what  does  this  sudden  change  por- 
tend?" 

"Do  not  say  change,  Aaron.  I  cannot  change," 
and  .she  looked  half-sadly,  half  lovingly  at  him.  "  I 
cannot  change.  I  am  yours,  and  only  yours ;  do  with 
me  as  you  Dlease.  Bat  listen  to  me,"  and  approaching 
him,  she  lowered  her  voice  almost  to  a  whisper,  "I  am 
rich,  highly  connected,  andv  through  my  family,  possess 
boundless  influence,  and  what,  Aaron,  hare  you  ?" 

"  A  patrimony  which  I  am  spending  freely  in  my 
country's  cause,  my  sword,  and  my  determination  to 
make  for  myself  a  name  and  fame  of  which  even  you 
shall  be  proud." 

"In  neither  can  you  fail.  But  listen,  Aaron ;  do  not 
reproach  me  if  I  venture  to  speak  as  my  heart  dictates. 
I  am  young — very  young  for  the  sad  experience* 


THE   FIRST  TEMPTATION.  185 

through  which  I  have  passed :  but  I  am  old  enough  to 
know  my  own  feelings,  though  perhaps  not  old  enough 
to  control  my  impulses.  You  possess  every  thought 
and  feeling  which  I  am  capable  of  giving  ;  there  is  no 
sacrifice  on  earth  I  am  not  ready  to  make,  to  prove  my 
love  for  you,  if  proof  be  needed.  But,  Aaron,  how  are 
you  placed  ?  You,  siding  with  a  cause  which  you 
believe  to  be  right — nay,  which  you  feel  to  be  right," 
she  added,  seeing  a  cloud  gather  on  the  young  soldier's 
brow,  "  and  the  success  of  that  cause  is  very  far  from 
being  certain,  for  with  undisciplined  troops — with  mea 
deprived  even  of  their  promised  pay  (you  see  I  know 
all  these  things),  poorly  fed,  and  worse  clad — men  who 
have  enlisted  only  because  every  other  means  of 
employment  was  debarred  them  " 

"  Margaret,  stay — you  wrong  my  countrymen. 
Poorly  fed,  worse  clad,  and  compelled  to  endure 
unlooked-for  hardships,  as  they  are  and  have  been, 
they  are  animated  by  a  feeling  which  makes  them 
superior  to  the  hirelings  who  compose  the  arms  of 
your  countrymen.  Each  man  has  a  stake  in  this  issue, 
and  each  man  is  prepared  to  stand  or  fall  by  the  result 
of  the  conflict  in  which  we  are  engaged." 

"  And  you,  Aaron  ?" 

«  Me — oh,  well,  I  don't  think  of  myself.  My  mis- 
tress  is  glory.  I  mean  to  make  a  name — to  leave  my 
mark  on  the  page  of  history — and  if  I  can  do  that,  I 
nhall  depart  satisfied." 


186  MARGARET  MOXCEIEFFE. 

"  And  that  to  me,  Aaron,"  said  Margaret,  with  tear- 
ful eyes,  as  she  gazed  upon  the  young  enthusiast  before 
her,  "  that  to  me,  who  have  said  that  there  is  nothing 
I  could  deem  a  sacrifice  if  I  could  serve  you.  But  this 
contest,  I  am  confident,  will  prove  fruitless.  So  far  as 
your  countrymen  are  concerned,  there  can  only  be  one 
termination  to  it.  England,  with  men  and  money  at 
her  command  to  an  unlimited  extent,  will,  if  needed, 
overrun  this  country  with  troops — brave,  loyal,  dis- 
ciplined troops.  Within  two  months,  this  very  city 
will  be  in  our  possession,  and  where  will  you  be 
then  ?» 

"  Margaret,  you  talk  wildly,"  said  the  major,  affect- 
ing an  offended  air. 

"  I  do  not  talk  wildly,  Aaron  ;  and  even  while  you 
Bay  so,  you  do  not  believe  it.  I  know  more,  much 
more  than  you  think  I  do  ;  but  I  know  nothing  half  so 
precious  as  that  you  love  me,"  and  approaching,  she 
took  his  unresisting  hand. 

"  Margaret — Margaret  Moncrieffe,"  exclaimed  Major 
Burr,  looking  at  her  as  if  he  would  read  her  very 
soul,  "  what  do  you  mean  ? — what  do  your  words  im- 
port ?" 

"  What  I  would,  as  I  am  able  to  do,  prove  my  love 
for  you.  I  mean  that  if  you  have  the  courage  to  make 
a  email  sacrifice  for  me,  I  am  prepared  to  make  a  greater 
one  for  you." 

"I   do  not   understand   you,  Margaret,"   said  the 


THE   FIRST  TEMPTATION.  187 

major,  abstractedly,  looking  at  her  with  an  expression 
of  inquiry. 

"  I  must  give  up  the  certainty  of  wealth,  rank,  sta- 
tion, and  the  high  position  to  which  I  was  born,  and  to 
which  I  can  raise  you,  or  you  must  give  up  your  pros- 
pects, founded  upon  the  possible  success  of  the  rebel- 
lion," she  continued,  as  she  saw  the  brow  of  the  young 
aid  darkened  by  a  frown  ;  "  I  know  no  other  word 
for  it.  You  hope  for  a  bright  future.  I  can  make  ours 
certain.  My  ancestors  have  fought  for  their  king  and 
country  from  the  days  of  the  glorious  Black  Prince, 
and  I  have  inherited  their  loyalty  and  spirit.  Come, 
Aaron,  don't  make  me  choose,"  and  approaching,  she 
leaned  on  his  shoulder,  looking  him  affectionately  hi 
the  face.  "  I  can  do  all  I  say,"  she  continued,  in  a  low, 
soft,  winning  tone.  "  You  hope  to  accomplish  all  you 
desire ;  if  I  must  choose,  my  choice  is  already  made, 
and  you  know  it.  But  oh,  Aaron !  if  you  do  love  me, 
let  me  prove  my  love  for  you,  and  add  to  my  happiness 
by  the  consciousness  that  I  have  served  you." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Margaret  ?"  exclaimed  the 
major,  holding  her  off  at  arm's  length.  "In  God's 
name,  what  do  you  mean  ?  I  dare  not  understand 
you." 

"  Only  this,  Aaron,"  she  replied  calmly,  "  that  one 
of  us  must  yield ;  for,  without  a  concession  on  either 
side,  we  must  part.  I  have  told  you  what  you  well 
know  now,  dear  Aaron,  that  I  am  ready  to  make  it 


188  MARGAEET  MOXCMEFFE. 

on  my  part — but  I  do  implore  you  to  pause  before  you 
compel  me  to  a  step  which  you  may  hereafter  repent — 
I  love  you  with  all  the  strength  and  fervor  of  a  woman's 
first  love,  and  " 

"I  worship  you,  Margaret,"  exclaimed  the  young 
soldier,  overpowered  by  her  enthusiasm,  and  carried 
away  by  his  passionate  devotion  to  this  singular  and 
fascinating  being,  with  whom  he  had  been  so  strangely 
brought  in  contact.  "  Do  with  me  as  you  please,  only 
love  me  and  be  mine." 

"  I  do  love  you,  and  will  be  only  yours,  Aaron," 
replied  Margaret,  and  a  glance  of  mingled  love  and 
triumph  shot  from  her  eyes  as  she  spoke.  "  Colonel 
Burr,  there  is  my  hand — you  know  you  have  my 
heart,"  and  she  extended  to  him  that  hand,  for  the 
possession  of  which  he  had  declared  himself  ready  to 
sacrifice  honor  and  duty. 

"  Colonel  Burr !»  he  echoed. 

"  Yes,"  said  Margaret,  with  a  meaning  smile,  "  you 
shall  see  that,  young  and  reckless  as  I  appear  to  be,  I 
have  not  spoken  without  a  purpose.  But  mark  you, 
Aaron,  I  shall  ask  no  aid,  direct  or  indirect,  from  you. 
I  shall  neither  do  nor  say  anything  which  may  by  any 
possibility,  however  remote,  compromise  you.  I  say 
only  this,  that  in  three  days,  or  four  at  the  furthest,  1 
will  prove  to  you  that  I  can  accomplish  all  I  have  said. 
Again  I  say,  COLONEL  BUBR,  there  is  my  hand — wil 
you  take  it  on  these  conditions  ?" 


THE   FIEST  TEMPTATION.  189 

u  There  are  no  conditions  on  earth  to  which  I  would 
not  submit  to  possess  it,"  he  said,  with  enthusiasm, 
grasping  her  proffered  hand  and  pressing  it  to  his 
heart. 

"  Now,  then,  we  understand  each  other,"  said  Mar- 
garet, with  a  meaning  look. 

"  I  am  yours  ;  do  with  me  as  you  please,"  he  replied, 
with  an  earnestness  and  warmth  which  showed  how 
truly  every  thought  and  feeling  had  been  brought  into 
subjection  by  his  fair  enchantress. 

"  In  four  days  at  the  furthest,  Colonel  Burr,"  she 
repeated  significantly,  "  you  shall  see  that  I  have  made 
no  promises  which  I  cannot  fulfill." 

"  But  Margaret,  how  can  I  remain  here  ? — here  in 
the  very  family  circle  of  my  good  old  general ;  hear- 
ing everything — seeing  everything — knowing  every- 
thing  ?" 

"  But  saying  nothing  and  doing  nothing,  Aaron. 
No,  no — I  respect  your  feelings — nay,»I  honor  your 
love  for  me  too  much  for  that ;  for  I  feel  you  have 
granted  to  that  love  for  me,  what  nothing  else  on  earth 
could  have  wrung  from  you.  No,  be  as  you  are — do 
as  you  are  doing — and,  by  the' boundless  love  I  bear  to 
you,  Aaron,  no  slur  shall  ever  come  upon  your  name. 
Can  you  not  trust  me  ?" 

"  With  my  very  soul,  Margaret,"  replied  the  young 
major,  warmly ;  and  he  was  about  to  prove  the  inten- 
sity of  his  assertion  by  something  more  palpable  than 


190  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

words,  when  the  sounds  of  heavy  footsteps  ascending 
the  stairs,  startled  the  happy  pair,  and  each  sprang  to 
the  seat  from  which  they  had  arisen,  and,  in  an  instant, 
were  as  deeply  engrossed,  seemingly,  in  their  respective 
occupations  as  they  had  been  on  the  departure  of 
General  Putnam. 

The  loud  rap  at  the  door  was  answered  by  the 
major,  and  the  orderly  in  waiting  entering,  with  the 
customary  military  salute,  announced  the  return  of  the 
man  who  had  been  dispatched  to  inquire  into  the  cause 

of  the  non-appearance  of  Seth  Adams  at  the  hour 
appointed. 


CHAPTER 

MAJOR      BURR      ENSLAVED. 

"WELL,  what  is  it?"  queried  the  major,  with  an  an 
of  impatience,  turning  from  the  table  at  which  he  was 
seated,  toward  the  person  whose  entrance  had  been  an- 
nounced, and  who  proved  to  be  a  sergeant  from  the 
Badlam  barracks,  to  which  Adams  was  attached. 

"  Adams  did  not  return  last  night,  and  has  not  been 
to  the  quarters  this  morning  sir." 

"  Not  returned  to  his  quarters  ?"  said  Major  Burr, 
rising  from  his  seat  and  confronting  the  soldier. 

u  No,  sir,"  he  replied,  with  another  military  salute, 
"  and  here's  a  letter  from  Major  Gibbs." 

"  What,  of  the  Life-guards  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  He  gave  it  to  me  himself,  and  told  me  to 
be  sure  that  you  got  it." 

"  Wait,  then,  until  I  see  what  this  means ;"  and  the 
young  aid,  forgetting  in  the  moment  everything  save 
the  impulses  of  duty,  hastily  tore  open  the  missive 
which  the  sergeant  had  handed  to  him,  and  which  he 
perused  with  eager  rapidity,  fairly  devouring  its  con- 
tents. 

"  It's  all  right,  sergeant ;  I  have  no  time  to  reply  now 


192  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

to  Major  Gibbs.  Say  that  I  will  see  him  as  soon  aa 
General  Putnam  returns  from  the  council ;"  and  the  ser- 
geant, with  a  third  salute,  withdrew. 

"  Now,  what  on  earth  does  this  mean  ?"  he  said,  soli- 
loquizing, and  forgetting  the  presence  of  Margaret. 
"  I  know  Seth  as  well  as  I  know  myself,  and  he  never 
could  prove  false.  By  Heavens !  there  has  been  some 
foul  play  here,  and  I  will  find  it  out,  or O,  Marga- 
ret, I  beg  your  pardon,  I  quite  forgot " 

"  That  there  was  such  a  person  in  existence,  as  Mar- 
garet," she  said,  with  a  sad  smile,  interrrupting  him. 
*'  I  don't  blame  you,  Major  Burr,  only  spare  me ;  I  am 
only  a  girl — a  fond,  foolish  girl— but  I  throw  myself 
upon  your  honor,  as  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman." 

"  Margaret,  what  do  you  mean  ?  What  have  I  said, 
what  done,  that  you  should  so  reproach  me  ?  What 
do  you  wish  me  to  do  ?" 

"  Nothing,  Major  Burr,  but  to  forget  those  words  you 
spoke  a  few  minutes  since,  and  in  forgetting  them,  cease 
to  remember  me." 

"  Oh,  Margaret !  dear,  dear  Margaret,  forgive  me. 
I  did  not  know  what  I  was  saying.  I  know  not  what 
I  have  said  to  pain  or  wound  you.  Tell  me,  Margaret, 
what  I  have  done ;  for  on  my  life  I  do  not  know  ? 
What  earthly  connection  can  you  have  in  this  matter?" 
and  he  pointed  to  the  letter  of  Major  Gibbs,  which  he 
still  held  in  his  hand. 

"  Aaron  Burr,"  said  Margaret,  and  as  she  spoke,  she 


MAJOK  BURR   ENSLAVED.  193 

advanced  toward  him  and  placed  her  fair,  white  hand 
upon  his  arm,  "  it  was  but  a  few  moments  since,  and 
you  promised — do  you  remember  what  ?" 

"  To  be  yours,  and  yours,  only,  and  forever." 

"  And  did  I  not  make  a  promise,  too  ?" 

"  You  ?"  he  said,  earnestly. 

"  Even  I.  Did  I  not  say,  that  in  nothing,  by  word 
or  deed,  should  you  be  compromised  by  me  ?" 

"  I  remember  that,"  he  said,  thoughtfully. 

"  Then  let  me  keep  my  word ;  and  do  you  be  a  man 
as  you  are  a  soldier.  Once  for  all,  Aaron  Burr,  is  it 
me,  or  is  it  " 

"  Oh,  do  not  ask  that,  Margaret.  Who,  what  on 
earth  is  it  ?  What  can  it  be  but  you,  and  you  only  ? 
Dear  Margaret  forgive  me,  if  I  have  said  aught  to 
wound  your  feelings." 

"  You  have  not,  Aaron,"  and  she  suffered  him  to  re- 
tain the  hand  which  he  had  grasped  as  he  spoke.  "  But 
your  interest  for  that  man,  and  the  cause  in  which  he 
has  engaged,  seemed  so  much  stronger  than  your  love 
for  me,  my  faith  in  your  pledges  began  to  waver." 

"  Margaret,  you  speak  in  riddles ;  what  do  you 
mean  ?"  and  as  he  spoke,  Major  Burr  dropped  her 
hand,  and  facing  her,  looked  steadily  in  her  eye. 

"  Nothhig,  Major  Burr,"  she  said,  with  a  cold,  ma- 
jestic air.  "  I  shall  keep  my  pledge,  though  you  may 
desire  to  forget  yours." 

"  Even  now,  I  know  not  what  you  mean.  Tell  me, 
9 


194  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFK. 

Margaret,  for  Heaven's  sake,  tell  me,  and  do  not  let 
me  do  or  say  anything  which  may  make  you  think  less 
of  me." 

"  Ask  no  questions,  Aaron,  save  those  from  whom 
you  have  the  right  to  ask  them.  If  you  repeat  the 
words  you  spoke  but  just  now,  if  you  believe  Margaret 
Moncrieffe  is  unable  to  fulfill  the  pledge  she  has  made, 
if  in  saluting  you  as  Colonel  Burr,  she  "  • 

"  Ah,  I  see.  I  did  forget ;  Margaret  forgive  me. 
My  position  is  so  new,  so  strange,  so  perfectly  marvel- 
lous even  to  myself,  I  scarcely  know  what  I  say  or  do. 
The  force  of  habit,  you  know,  Margaret,"  and  he 
smiled  faintly,  as  he  spoke,  "  is  very  strong." 

"With  -me,  the  power  of  love  is  stronger,"  she  re- 
plied, with  something  of  pride  in  her  tones.  "  You 
nave  once  made  your  choice ;  do  you  wish  to  abide 
by  it  ?" 

"  Margaret,  and  Margaret,  only,"  enthusiastically 
replied  the  young  soldier,  again  completely  be- 
wildered. 

"Then  ask  no  questions.  Pursue  your  own  investi- 
gations and  learn  what  you  can." 

"  I  shall  gladly  take  lessons  from  you." 

"  Not  very  gladly,  Aaron,"  she  said,  sadly. 

"  Oh,  do  not  reproach  me.  Remember,  Margaret, 
how  brief  has  been  " 

"  Our  intercourse,"  she  interrupted  ;  "  and  would 
you  reproach  me  with  that  ?  Would  you  reproach  me 


MAJOR   BURR   ENSLAVED.  195 

because  I  have  said  that  there  was  nothing  on  earth  I 
would  not  sacrifice  to  prove,  if  proof  was  needed,  my 
love  for  you  ?  Oh,  Aaron !  you  either  do  not  know 
yourself,  or  you  do  not  know  me." 

"  Margaret,  what  shall  I  do  ?" 

"  Have  I  not  said  but  now,  do  nothing  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned  ?  You  have  your  report  there  ;  act  upon  it. 
Is  it  necessary  that  I  should  know  your  official  business, 
even  if  I  am  Miss  Aid  ?"  and  she  quoted,  with  an  arch 
smile,  the  general's  appellation. 

"  I  see,  I  see,"  said  the  major,  half  musingly.  "  Mar- 
garet, I  yield  the  palm  to  you.  Teach  me,  for  I  will 
gladly  learn  from  you." 

"  And  for  the  future  ?" 

"  Count  me  yours,  and  yours  only.  Your  cause  is 
mine — your  quarrel  mine.  Only,  Margaret,"  and  he 
spoke  despondingly,  "  I  would  not  have  it  known  here 
how  I  have  fallen." 

"  Fallen,  Aaron  !  Risen,  rather — risen  say,"  and 
she  stood  erect  before  him  a  very  Pythoness.  "  Risen, 
I  say,  Aaron  ;  for  your  elevation  is  as  sure  as  that  of 
the  daily  sun,  and  it  will  be  as  glorious,"  and,  as  she 
spoke,  she  threw  herself  into  his  arms  with  a  sob  of 
joy.  "  Now,  Aaron,''  she  continued,  rising  from  his 
embrace,  "  ask  me  no  questions  and  I  shall  have 
nothing  to  answer  hereafter.  When  I  fulfill  my 
pledge  to  you,  then  I  shall  ask  you  to  think  and  act 
with  me  Until  then,  we  know  nothing  of  each  other's 


198  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFK. 

movements.  Oh,  yes,  Aaron,"  she  added,  as  she  saw 
a  shade  of  sadness  come  over  his  face,  "  one  thing  we 
do  know — one  thing — whatever  fate  may  bring  for  us, 
we  can  never  forget  our  love." 

"  Never,  Margaret — never ;  and  I  can  give  no  better 
proof  of  mine  than  I  have  done  by  sacrificing  honor, 
duty,  morality,  and  all,  to  love — I  do  so  love  you,  Mar- 
garet," he  added,  with  an  expression  amounting  to  in- 
tensity of  earnestness. 

"  And  I  do  know  and  feel  it,"  she  responded. 

"  And  pray,  Miss  Moncrieffe,  what  may  that  be 
which  you  know  and  feel,"  inquired  General  Putnam, 
•who,  unheard  and  unannounced,  had  entered  the  room 
while  Margaret  and  the  major  were  thus  earnestly  con- 
versing, but  had  only  caught  her  last  words. 

"  I  was  saying  how  deeply  I  should  feel  the  loss  of 
my  daily  exercise,  grandpa,"  she  said,  turning  to  him 
with  a  countenance  as  free  from  emotion  as  that  of  a 
marble  statue.  **  Major  Burr  was  saying  he  did  not 
think  I  ought  to  ride  so  much  about  the  works,  for 
fear  I  should  make  some  improper  use  of  the  privilege, 
and  » 

"  Major  BUIT  is  a  very  cautious  officer,"  replied  the 
general,  sententiously,  at  the  same  time  taking  a  huge 
pinch  of  snuff.  "  If  he  will  not  trust  you  I  will,  and 
assume  the  responsibility  of  any  mischief  you  may  do 
except  among  our  officers." 

"  Thank  you,  grandpa,"   and   she  turned,  with   a 


MAJOR   BURR   ENSLAVED.  197 

meaning  look,  to  the  young  aid,  who  by  thi  *»*»<}  was 
again  poring  over  his  files  of  documents. 

"  May  I  go  now  ?" 

"  Go  now — yes,  go  when  you  choose  and  where  you 
choose,  and  stay  as  long  as  you  choose ;  but  mark  JHWL. 
Miss  Impudence  " 

"  Margaret,  sir,  isfriy  name,"  she  said,  very  demurely, 
with  a  low  courtesy. 

"  Well,  Miss  Impudence  Margaret,  if  I  catch  yen  at 
any  capers,  I'll  hang  you  as  high  as  Haman." 

"  As  high  as  who,  grandpa  ?"  she  asked,  with  an 
arch  smile ;  and  as  she  saw  a  cloud  gathering  on  the 
old  general's  brow,  she  hurried  from  the  room,  and  in 
less  than  five  minutes  was  cantering  through  Broad- 
way, mounted  on  Selim,  who  pranced  and  curvetted, 
as  if  proud  of  his  lovely  burden. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

1IABGARET   AND   THE   ROYALIST  CAPTAIN. 

As  she  was  riding  along,  attracting  the  attention  of 
all  beholders,  as  well  by  her  splendid  horsemanship  as 
by  the  ease  and  grace  with  which  she  managed  the  im- 
patient Selim,  she  perceived,  at  some  distance  ahead, 
the  well-remembered  form  and  face  of  Captain  Blan- 
chard,  walking  arm-in-arm  with  an  officer  in  the  Pro- 
vincial uniform,  and  reining  in  the  impatient  Selim,  she 
moved  along  slowly  until  they  met,  when,  checking  her 
horse  so  suddenly  that  he  almost  went  on  his  haunches, 
Captain  Blanchard  advanced  toward  her,  and,  with  a 
courteous  salute,  inquired  how  it  chanced  that  she  was 
out  alone. 

"  Because  I  hoped  to  meet  you,  captain,"  she  said, 
meaningly. 

"  It  is  a  fortunate  meeting,"  he  said ;  "  for  I  was  on 
the  road  to  pay  you  a  call.  I  have  something  for 
you." 

"  From  his  Excellency  the  Governor  ?"  she  inquired, 
eagerly. 

"  Even  so,  Miss  Margaret,"  and,  looking  cautiously 
around,  to  see  whether  he  was  observed  or  not,  he 

193 


MAKGAKET   AND  THE  ROYALIST   CAPTAIN.          199 

hurriedly  thrust  into  her  hand  a  letter  which  he  had 
crumpled  into  the  smallest  possible  space,  and  which 
Margaret  as  quickly  thrust  into  the  pocket  of  her 
riding-dress,  but  without  interrupting  the  conversa- 
tion ;  for  she  continued,  in  unchanged  tones:  "'Who 
is  your  friend  who  seems  to  watch  your  movements  so 
intently  ?"  and  she  eyed  the  young  Continental  officer 
with  a  scrutinizing  glance. 

"  You  will  be  surprised  when  I  introduce  him  to 
you,  and  more  surprised  when  I  tell  you  that  he  is  one 
of  us." 

"  Indeed  !"  she  exclaimed,  her  countenance  lighting 
•with  an  expression  of  pleasure  ;  for  she  had  recognized 
the  uniform  of  McDougal's  corps  as  she  again  fastened 
her  gaze  upon  the  officer,  who  stood  there,  carelessly 
kicking  his  heels  on  the  pavement,  as  if  quite  uncon- 
scious of  the  presence  of  any  parties,  but  stealing 
occasional  glances  of  admiration  at  the  beautiful  crea- 
ture who  had  burst  so  suddenly  on  his  sight. 

"  You  have  heard,  I  suppose,  for  you  seem  to  learn 
everything,  that  a  captain  in  McDougal's  regiment  has 
joined  the  cause  of  his  majesty  ?" 

Margai*et  nodded  assent,  but  made  no  verbal  reply. 

"  Edmund,"  he  said,  turning  to  his  brother,  for  it 
was  he  who  was  his  companion,  and  at  the  word  the 
young  Provincial  advanced  with  unwonted  alacrity. 

"Miss  Moncrieffe,  Captain  Blanchard,  my  younger 
brother." 


200  MARGARET  MONCKIEFFB. 

"  Your  brother,  Captain  Blanchard !"  exclaimed 
Margaret,  turning  from  one  to  the  other,  with  looks 
of  unrestrained  amazement. 

"  My  only  living  brother,  and  only  relative  on  earth, 
Miss  Margaret,"  replied  Arthur,  with  a  low  bow. 

"  I  am  truly  glad  to  make  your  acquaintance,  cap- 
tain," she  said,  extending  her  hand  cordially,  "the 
more  so  that  I  find  in  you  the  brother  of  my  father's 
dearest  friend ;  and  I  am  doubly  glad  to  learn  from 
your  brother  that  " 

"  Hush,  Miss  Margaret,"  said  the  Royalist,  "  there 
aie  persons  turning  that  corner  who  may  overhear 
our  conversation.  You  may  repose  as  much  confi- 
dence in  him  as  you  would  in  myself.  It  will  be 
much  more  easy  to  communicate  through  him  than 
through  me,  and  eveiything  intrusted  to  him  will  reach 
the  proper  quarter.  I  vouch  for  his  sincerity  and 
truth."  : 

Margaret  gazed  earnestly  into  the  face  of  the  young 
Provincial,  now  all  aglow  at  finding  himself  so  suddenly 
placed  on  terms  of  confidential  intercourse  with  one  of 
whom  he  had  heard  so  much,  and  whose  appearance, 
he  felt,  fully  justified  the  lavish  encomiums  passed  upon 
her. 

"  Captain,"  and  she  addressed  the  Royalist,  "  I  have 
no  time  or  opportunity  to  write  to-day,  and  if  I  had 
I  might  not  be  able  to  dispatch  it.  Do  you  write  to 
Governor  Tryon,  and  say  that  I  desire  him  to  seucf  to 


MARGARET   AXD   THE   KOYATJST   CAPTAIN.  201 

me — mind,  to  me,  captain — a  colonel's  commission  in 
blank." 

The  Royalist  captain  looked  astounded  at  this 
request,  while  the  Provincial  officer,  who  construed 
her  words  at  once  as  an  intention  to  secure  to  him  a 
reward  for  his  treason,  could  scarcely  conceal  the  smile 
of  gratification  and  triumph,  which  her  words  had  called 
to  his  face. 

Margaret  noticed  the  expression,  and  the  slightest 
possible  curl  of  contempt  was  perceptible  on  her  pretty 
mouth  ;  but  it  passed  as  quickly  as  it  had  come,  and 
she  continued : 

"  Yes,  a  colonel's  commission — write  that.  He  must 
not  deny  me — I  scarcely  think  he  will.  Tell  him  that 
orders  were  given  to-day  to  strengthen  the  defences  in 
the  vicinity  of  Richmond  Hill,  and  that  General  Wash- 
ington is  expected  to  return  in  a  few  days.  What  was 
done  with  that  man  who  was  sent  to  Corbie's  last 
night  ?» 

"  I  really  don't  know.  The  letter  you  have  was 
brought  to  me  this  morning  by  a  messenger  from  Cor- 
bie, but  he  said  nothing  to  me  of  anything  having 
occurred  last  night." 

"  Something  has  evidently  gone  wrong,  I  am  afraid. 
The  man  who  was  sent  there,  and  who  was  to  have 
reported  this  morning,  has  not  been  seen  since,  and 
there  will  be  much  trouble  about  it,  for  he  was  a  great 
favorite ;  so  tell  any  one  concerned  to  be  on  hi* 
9* 


202  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

guard.  Mind,  captain,  don't  fail  to  write  by  the  first 
opportunity  for  that  commission,"  and  as  she  spoke, 
she  fastened  her  lustrous  eyes  again  on  the  young  Pro- 
vincial, who  had  remained  a  silent  but  deeply  interested 
listener  to  this  conversation.  "  You  will  call  on  me, 
will  you  not  ?  I  shall  be  exceedingly  happy  to  see  you 
at  any  time,"  she  said,  addressing  him. 

"  With  more  pleasure  than  I  have  words  to  express," 
he  replied,  with  an  earnestness  scarcely  called  for  by 
this  simple  invitation,  for  the  beauty  and  fascinations 
of  Margaret  had  already  done  their  work,  and  the 
glance  with  which  she  accompanied  her  words,  had 
completely  carried  him  away. 

*'  Upon  my  word,  captain,"  she  said,  laughing,  but 
at  the  same  time  regarding  him  with  a  speaking  glance, 
•'  I  do  believe  you  have  been  taking  lessons  from  Colo- 
nel Shee." 

"  Surely  I  do  not  require  teaching  to  admire  Miss 
Moncriefie,"  said  the  young  soldier,  with  a  low  bow, 
and  placing  his  hand  on  his  heart  as  he  spoke. 

"  There,  that  will  do ;  get  a  new  speech  ready  for 
to-morrow,  captain,"  she  said,  smiling,  at  the  same 
time  touching  Selim  with  her  riding-whip,  and  as  he 
sprang  forward  with  a  bound,  she  kissed  her  hand 
gaily  to  the  twain,  and  had  only  time  to  say,  "  Don't 
forget  the  commission,"  with  another  meaning  glance 
at  the  younger,  ere  she  was  out  of  speaking  dis- 
tance. 


MARGARET  AND  THE  ROYALIST  CAPTAIN.          203 

"  What  a  lovely  girl,"  said  Edmund  to  his  brother, 
as  he  followed  her  receding  form  with  admiring 
eyes. 

"  What — already,  Edmund  ?"  said  his  brother. 

"  I  don't  wonder  at  anything  I  have  heard  now. 
But  I  say,  Arthur,  for  whom  do  you  suppose  she 
intends  that  commission  ?" 

"  I  can't  guess,"  replied  the  brother,  drily,  for  he 
had,  in  the  question,  read  his  brother's  thoughts. 
"  Can  you  ?"  he  asked,  smiling  maliciously. 

"  Me  ?  Oh,  no,"  replied  Edmund,  confusedly,  and 
blushing  as  he  spoke.  "  Xo  matter ;  I  don't  care  for 
whom  it  is  intended.  She  is  a  lovely  girl,  and  may  do 
as  she  chooses." 

"  She  generally  does ;  and  you  would  have  thought 
so,  on  the  night  of  the  ball,  if  you  had  seen  her  sur- 
rounded by  a  suite  as  large  as  that  of  a  queen.  But 
come,  I  must  go  to  my  rooms  and  do  this  beauty's 
bidding.  She  is  too  important  to  our  cause  to  be 
neglected  ;  besides,  the  information  which  she  gives  is 
of  the  highest  importance  to  our  plot." 

"  I  wish,  Arthur,  you  would  not  use  that  word 
again,  unless  you  explain  yourself." 

"Well,  then,  Edmund,"  and  locking  arms,  the 
Royalist  proceeded  to  detail  to  his  brother  the  plot 
which  was  fast  maturing,  upon  the  success  or  failure 
of  which  depended,  as  was  believed,  the  continuation  or 
the  sudden  termination  of  the  war.  Edmwid  listened 


204  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

in  rapt  silence,  and  as  his  brother  concluded  his  dis- 
closure, exclaimed : 

"  By  heavens !  that  is  wonderfully  conceived." 

"Yes,  and  if  carried  to  a  successful  termination, 
every  party  concerned  in  it,  you  may  rest  assured,  will 
be  remembered  by  a  grateful  sovereign." 

"  I  believe  I  am  the  only  commissioned  officer  yet 
enlisted,"  said  Edmund,  half  musingly. 

"  Still  harping  on  my  daughter,  Edmund,"  said  the 
brother,  laughing,  for  he  well  knew  that  the  colonel's 
commission  was  running  through  his  busy  brain. 

"  Well,  I  can't  help  it,  Arthur,  and  if  I  can  do  any- 
thing to  earn  it,  I  will,  you  may  rest  assured." 

"  Earn  what  ?"  asked  his  brother,  pretending  not  t,o 
understand  his  meaning. 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  I  suppose  I  was  talking  to  myself, 
Arthur.  Those  terrible  eyes  of  Miss  Moncrieffe  have 
quite  unnerved  me." 

"And  that  parchment,  with  the  great  seal  attached, 
is  required  to  restore  you,"  said  Arthur,  laughing.  "  I 
hope  you  will  get  it,  for  I  know  you  are  able  to  earn  it 
now,"  and  the  conversation  which  turned  upon  the 
prospects  of  the  Royalists,  and  which  is  not  necessary 
to  repeat,  was  carried  on  almost  in  whispered  tones, 
until  the  brothers  reached  the  quarters  of  the  Royalist, 
where  they  parted,  the  one  to  indite  his  letter  to 
Governor  Tryon,  in  obedience  to  Margaret's  behests  ; 
the  other  to  gather  all  the  information  he  could  which 


MAKGAEET  AND  THE   EOYALIST  CAPTAIN.          209 

might  be  of  any  service  to  the  cause  he  had  espoused 
at  the  sacrifice  of  manhood  and  honor. 

Margaret  rode  on  slowly,  meeting  at  almost  every 
hundred  yards  some  one  of  her  conquests  at  the  ball. 
For  each  she  had  some  pleasant  greeting,  and  each  one 
received  one  of  those  bright  sunny  smiles  which  were 
so  irresistible.  She  reached  her  home  while  General 
Putnam  and  Major  Burr  were  still  engaged  in  conver- 
sation, not  only  as  to  the  singular  conduct  of  young 
Adams,  who  was  nowhere  to  be  found,  but  as  to  the 
conclusions  reached  by  the  Council  of  Generals  which 
had  been  that  day  convened,  and  from  which  the  gene- 
ral had  just  returned  when  Margaret  started  for  her 
morning  ride. 

Retiring  to  her  own  room,  she  locked  the  door  with- 
out waiting  to  disrobe  herself,  threw  herself  into  a 
chair,  and,  drawing  forth  the  crumpled  letter  which 
Captain  Blanchard  had  handed  to  her,  commenced  its 
perusal.  As  she  read,  a  smile  of  triumph  lighted  her 
beautiful  face  ;  and  when  she  closed,  she  leaned  back 
in  her  chair,  and  burying  her  dimpled  chin  in  one  hand, 
sat  for  several  moments  mute  and  motionless  ;  but  that 
pleasant  thoughts  were  running  through  her  busy  brain, 
was  evidenced  by  the  expression  of  her  countenance, 
which  spoke  of  love  and  happiness. 

"  Oh  !  how  happy  I  shall  be  when  I  show  him  ho\p 
promptly  I  have  kept  my  pledge  to  him.  Oh,  Aaron, 
Aaron  !  do  you  love  me  as  I  love  you  ?"  and  again  she 


206  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

sank  into  a  fit  of  musing,  from  which  she  was  aroused 
by  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door.  Hastily  thrusting  the  let- 
ter  of  Governor  Tryon  back  into  her  pocket,  she 
opened  it,  to  admit  the  general's  eldest  daughter— a 
bright,  sprightly  girl,  who  had  quite  sense  enough  not 
to  be  jealous  of  Margaret's  superior  attractions, 
and  also  the  wisdom  to  admire,  and  acknowledge 
her  admiration  for  the  beautiful  and  fascinating 
stranger. 

"  I  declare,  Margaret,"  she  said,  as  she  took  a  seat, 
"  I  never  saw  you  look  so  perfectly  lovely !"  and  she 
gazed  with  earnest  admiration  upon  Margaret,  whose 
color,  heightened  by  the  ride  and  the  occurrences  which 
had  transpired  during  it,  and  whose  eyes  were  actually 
dancing  with  happiness,  fully  justified  her  assertion. 

"  Really,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  begin  to  be  very  vain  if 
everybody  tells  me  I  am  so  handsome.  I  am  sure, 
Belle,  I  don't  think  of  my  beauty  at  all,  though  I  know 
I  have  my  share." 

"  I  really  believe  you  don't,  Margaret,"  said  Belle ; 
"  and  that  is  the  reason  why  every  one  admires  you. 
What  is  that,  Margaret  ?"  and  she  stooped  to  pick  up  a 
piece  of  paper  which  lay  at  the  young  girl's  feet,  half 
hidden  by  the  long  trail  of  her  riding-dress. 

It  was  the  letter  which  Margaret  had  just  received 
from  Governor  Tryon,  and  which  she  thought  she  had 
thrust  into  her  pocket,  whereas  it  had  only  been  laid  be- 
tween the  heavy  folds  of  her  dre«^.  Margaret  in. 


t 


MARGARET   AND   THE   ROYALIST   CAPTAIN.          20? 

tuitively  knew  what  it  was ;  but  without  exhibiting 
the  least  surprise  or  emotion,  said,  coolly : 

"  Pick  it  up  ;  that's  a  dear  girl.  I  am  so  tired,  I  am 
sure  if  I  should  stoop  I  couldn't  get  straight  again  ;" 
and  Miss  Putnam,  laughing  at  what  she  deemed  to  be 
Margaret's  affectation,  picked  up  the  letter  and  handed 
it  to  her. 

"  Come,  now,  Margaret,  what  is  it  ?"  she  asked,  as 
Margaret  proceeded  leisurely  to  open  the  letter,  and 
commenced  its  perusal  with  a  face  as  free  from  ex- 
pression as  a  marble  statue — "  some  love-letter,  I'll 
wager." 

"  You  would  not  be  far  out  of  the  way,  Cousin 
Belle,"  said  Margaret,  gaily  ;  "  you  know  I  made  seve- 
ral conquests  on  the  night  of  the  ball." 

"  Is  it  a  declaration  ?  Come,  read  it  to  me.  I  don't 
care  for  the  names  ;  but  I  do  want  to  hear  a  genuine 
love-letter.  I  never  had  one  myself." 

"  You  won't  say  anything  ?" 

"  'Pon  honor,  not  a  word." 

"  You  won't  tell  grandpa  ?" 

"  No  I  won't  tell  grandpa,  nor  Lady  Putnam,  nor 
even  Mattie.  Come,  read — that's  a  good  girl ;  I  want 
to  hear  how  a  man  writes  when  he  is  in  love." 

"Oh,  then,  you  have  heard  a  man  talk  love? — eh, 
Cousin  Belle  ?"  and  she  looked  quizzically  at  the  young 
lady,  thus  beseechingly  addressed,  who  colored  to  the 
very  roots  of  her  hair." 


208  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

"  Oh,  go  along,  Margaret,  you  little  torment.  Come, 
read  the  letter,,  and  perhaps  I'll  tell  you  something 
afterward." 

Thus  appealed  to,  Margaret,  holding  the  letter  up, 
pretended  to  read  its  contents,  and  she  proceeded  to 
recite  a  string  of  nothings — of  fulsome  compliments, 
absurd  flatteries  and  declarations  of  intense  passion. 
As  she  had  to  invent  as  she  went  along,  she  halted 
occasionally ;  but  she  excused  herself  for  this  by 
abusing  the  penmanship,  as  she  closed,  and  expressed 
the  hope  that  her  lover,  whoever  he  might  be,  would 
employ  a  secretary  for  his  next  effusion,  a  suggestion 
which  drew  from  Belle  a  burst  of  such  uproarious 
laughter,  that  her  sister  came  running  into  the  room  to 
learn  the  cause,  and  seeing  Margaret  standing  with  the 
open  letter  in  her  hand,  her  curiosity  was  also 
awakened,  and  she  insisted  upon  knowing  the  cause  of 
her  sister's  mirth. 

It  would  have  puzzled  Margaret  to  repeat  verbatim 
.the  string  of  nonsense  she  had  just  put  together  to 
satisfy  the  curiosity  of  Belle ;  so  drawing  herself  up 
with  a  mock  dignity,  which  brought  a  merry  laugh 
from  Mattie,  she  folded  the  letter  up  very  deliberately, 
and  as  she  placed  it  this  time  very  securely  in  her 
pocket,  she  said :  "  I  don't  think  you  are  quite  old 
enough,  Cousin  Mattie,  to  understand  such  things ;" 
and  Mattie  now  joined  her  sister  in  the  boisterous 
mirth,  which,  considering  that  she  was  nearly  four 


MARGARET   AND   THE    ROYALIST   CAPTAIN.          209 

years  the  senior  of  Margaret,  was  fully  warranted. 
Margaret  managed  very  readily  and  adroitly  to  turn 
the  conversation  into  topics  more  interesting  to  her 
new  cousins  than  a  love-letter  addressed  to  her,  and  in 
a  few  moments  the  occurrence  was  quite  forgotten. 

"  Come,  children,"  she  said  with  a  demure  look,  and 
again  their  noisy  laughter  rang  through  the  room,  "  I 
wish  to  change  my  attire,  and  I  will  thank  you  to  re- 
tire," and  she  courtesied  very  reverently  at  them. 

"  Oh,  certainly,  my  lady,"  they  replied,  in  a  breath, 
and  in  the  same  strain,  and  moving  backward  to  the 
door,  they  saluted  her  with  another  courtesy  as  digni- 
fied as  her  own,  and  once  more  she  was  alone. 

Hastily  locking  the  door,  she  drew  the  letter  which 
had  so  nearly  been  discovered,  from  her  pocket,  and 
seating  herself,  with  a  pair  of  scissors  commenced  cut- 
ting it  into  pieces  so  minute,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible to  reunite  them.  This  done,  she  chewed  the 
pieces  until  recognition  of  their  original  shape  or  pur- 
port  was  out  of  the  question,  and  threw  them  out  of  the 
window.  Having  completed  this  important  work  of 
destruction,  she  changed  her  riding-habit  for  a  becom- 
ing morning  dress,  and  in  a  few  moments  was  seated  iu 
the  room  with  Mrs.  Putnam  and  her  daughters,  as  un- 
concernedly as  if  she  had  not  just  escaped  being  hung 
"  as  high  as  Haman,"  in  accordance  with  the  general's 
threat. 

Of  the  contents  of  this  most  important  letter,  it  w 


210  MABGABET  MONCEIKFFK. 

only  necessary  to  say,  that  the  governor  warmly  thanked 
her  for  the  proffer  of  her  valuable  aid.  He  instructed 
her  to  communicate  as  often  and  fully  as  possible  with 
him,  designating  Captain  Blanchard,  her  father's  inti- 
mate friend,  as  the  safest  medium ;  and  he  urged  her, 
f  possible,  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  some  officer  of 
position  and  influence,  possessing  means  of  correct  in- 
formation, as  the  success  of  the  measures  in  which  they 
were  engaged,  depended  upon  the  first  blow.  In  con- 
clusion, he  assured  her  that  any  promise  made  by  her, 
to  secure  the  aid  of  such  an  officer  or  officers  as  might 
be  required,  would  be  faithfully  carried  out  by  him,  and 
he  referred  her  to  Captain  Blanchard  for  full  particu 
lars  as  to  the  intentions  to  which  his  letter  alluded. 

And  this  was  the  love-letter  which  had  excited  such 
mirth  on  the  part  of  Cousin  Belle,  and  which  Cousin  Matr 
tie  was  too  young  to  understand. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

NEW   CHABACTEB  INTBODTJCED. 

I  HAVE  said,  in  a  previous  chapter,  that  at  the  time 
when  the  rumors  of  the  intended  or  expected  invasion 
of  Xew  York  reached  the  city,  all  the  best  families  had 
fled,  and  sought  refuge  and  safety  in  distant  quarters. 

Many,  however,  remained.  Some  from  choice,  lor 
they  were  strongly  attached  to  the  cause  in  which  the 
Provincial  troops  were  engaged,  and  were  willing  to 
prove  their  loyalty  by  their  presence,  and  by  sharing 
the  dangers  and  privations  of  those  who  governed  the 
city.  Many,  again,  remained  from  necessity,  not  having 
the  means  to  leave  the  scene  of  threatened  danger ;  or 
if  they  had,  they  knew  not  where  to  find  shelter. 

Among  the  latter  class  was  one  family,  consisting  cf 
a  mother,  a  daughter  aged  about  nineteen,  and  a  son, 
twenty-two. 

Mrs.  Brainard  was  a  widow — the  widow  of  a  soldier 
who  had  sacrificed  himself  on  his  country's  altar  in  one 
of  the  earliest  contests  which  commenced  the  quarrel 
between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country — and  she 
was  as  deeply  imbued  with  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  as  ha«l 


212  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

been  her  husband,  when  he  left  home  and  family  to 
volunteer  for  his  country's  defence. 

Lizzie,  as  she  was  familiarly  called,  the  daughter,  was 
about  nineteen,  and  was  the  unfortunate  possessor  of 
two  qualities  which  in  all  asres  have  subjected  their  own 
ers  more  or  less  to  temptation,  and  often  insult.  She 
was  very  beautiful  and  very  poor. 

Albert,  the  son,  a  fine,  stalwart  youth  of  twenty-two, 
who  had  been  brought  up  to  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  was 
anxious  to  avenge  his  father's  death,  and  with  full  con- 
uent  of  his  truly  Spartan  mother,  had  enlisted .  in  Colo- 
nel McDougal's  regiment,  and  was  assigned  to  Captain 
Blan chard's  company. 

Mrs.  Brainard,  on  the  arrival  of  the  troops  ordered 
to  the  defence  of  New  York,  had  opened  a  small  shop 
in  what  is  now  known  as  John  street,  where  she  ma- 
naged, with  the  aid  of  Lizzie,  to  earn  a  comfortable 
living  by  making  up  linen  for  the  officers  of  the  vari- 
ous corps  who  occupied  the  city.  As  the  daughter  was 
assigned  to  the  charge  of  the  shop,  the  fame  of  her 
beauty  and  attractions  soon  spread  abroad,  and  custom- 
ers flocked  thither  more  to  enjoy  a  few  moments  con- 
verse with  her,  than  from  any  real  need  of  her  servicea 
as  a  seamstress ;  and  many  were  the  fulsome  compli- 
ments and  the  broad  innuendoes  to  which  she  had  been 
compelled  to  listen,  from  these  roystering  young  men, 
more  than  half  of  whom  had  received  commissions  with 
the  sole  view  of  conciliating  their  families,  or  securing 


A  NEW  CHARACTER  INTRODUCED.       218 

their  influence,  and  not  from  any  military  or  civic  quali- 
fications. 

More  than  once  she  had,  with  crimsoned  cheeks  and 
flashing  eyes,  been  forced  to  listen  to  proposals  more 
dishonorable  to  those  who  claimed  to  be  men,  than  to 
her,  whose  necessities  compelled  her  to  hear  them  in 
silence  ;  but  the  pure,  truthful  glance  of  her  clear  blue 
eye,  and  her  firm,  though  modest  demeanor,  invariably 
drove  them  from  her,  with  a  feeling  of  self-abasement 
known  only  to  the  truly  guilty. 

At  length  there  came  one  whose  admiration  was  so 
truthfully  expressed — whose  conduct  in  all  things  was 
BO  irreproachable — who  was  so  polite,  so  courteous,  so 
attentive,  she  dared  to  hope  that  at  length  she  had 
found  one  in  whom  she  might  confide,  the  more  so,  as 
he  had  been  brought  there  by  her  own  and  only 
brother. 

Captain  Edmund  Blanchard  had  heard  much  of  the 
beauty  and  fascinations  of  Lizzie,  and  knowing  that  her 
brother  Albert  was  one  of  his  company,  had  inci- 
dentally (to  all  appearance)  hinted  his  desire  of  having 
some  linen  made  up,  and  Albert,  anxious  at  once  to 
propitiate  his  commanding  officer,  and  to  serve  his 
mother  and  sister,  had  offered  to  introduce  him  to  the 
house. 

The  reader  will  please  to  remember,  en  parenthlse, 
that  in  those  days  many  of  the  commanding  officers 
were  no  more  than  the  equals  of  those  under  him,  and 


214  M  AEG  ABET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

that  such  a  thing  as  a  strictly  military  discipline  was 
almost  unknown  throughout  the  entire  army  of  nearly 
thirteen  thousand  men  who  garrisoned  the  city,  except 
when  hi  actual  service,  and  often  then  it  was  grievously 
neglected  or  not  attended  to. 

Albert  Brainard  was  but  too  happy  to  introduce  his 
captain  to  his  beautiful  sister,  of  whom  he  was  justly 
proud,  and  whom  he  loved  with  more  than  a  brother's 
devotion. 

Captain  Blanchard  was  more  than  pleased  with  the 
beautiful  girl — he  was  fascinated,  and  he  embraced 
every  opportunity,  and  made  many  almost  impossible 
ones,  for  visiting  the  humble  shop  over  which  she  pre« 
sided.  The  sequel  need  hardly  be  told,  for  every 
reader  can  imagine  it.  He  was  polite,  kind,  courteous ; 
and  as  he  showed  in  a  thousand  little  ways  the  feelings 
with  which  she  had  inspired  him,  she  could  not,  unless 
she  had  been  less  than  a  woman,  fail  to  perceive  the 
impression  she  had  made  on  him. 

She  began  to  draw  comparisons  between  Captain 
Blanchard  and  the  other  officers  who  visited  the  shop ; 
she  contrasted  his  quiet,  modest,  yet  pointedly  atten- 
tive behavior,  with  the  roystering  and  often  insulting 
conduct  and  language  of  others ;  and  as  the  comparison 
always  ended  in  his  favor,  she  gradually  began  to  think 
him  worthy  of  the  feelings  he  had  sought  to  win,  and  the 
result  was,  she  gave  them  to  him,  hi  all  the  truth,  and 
strength,  and  purity,  of  a  virtuous  woman's  first  love, 


A  NEW   CHARACTER  INTRODUCED.  215 

It  is  a  cruel  thing  to  have  to  narrate,  but  the  truth 
must  be  told,  and  that  a  sad  truth,  that  Lizzie  Brainard, 
whose  whole  heart,  and  soul,  and  feelings  had  been 
won  by  the  handsome  and  gallant  young  captain,  hi  an 
evil  hour  trusted  to  his  honorable  vows  of  intended 
marriage,  which  was  only  postponed  on  account  of  the 
uncertainty  of  his  future,  and  gave  to  him  that  which, 
once  given,  could  never  be  recalled. 

To  say  that  Edmund  Blan  chard  did  not  love  Lizzie, 
would  be  to  tell  a  foul  falsehood,  for  he  did,  as  much 
as  he  then  thought  he  was  capable  of  loving  anything, 
and  the  poor  trusting  fool,  but  too  happy  in  that  love, 
had  scarce  a  regret  for  that  sacrifice  which  she  had 
made,  for  every  feeling  of  her  heart  prompted  her  to 
repose  the  most  implicit  faith  and  trust  in  him,  and 
that  he  would  fulfill  his  promise  was  no  more  a  subject 
of  doubt  to  her,  than  that  she  was  alive ;  and  in  that 
faith  and  trust,  and  hi  his  love  daily  evinced,  and  as 
yet  showing  no  change,  she  found  her  happiness. 

Each  day  only  seemed  to  strengthen  the  ties  which 
bound  them  together,  and  Albert,  who  saw  the  current 
of  affairs,  was  but  too  happy  to  think  he  had  been  the 
means  of  introducing  to  his  sister  one  who  was  so 
evidently  calculated  to  make  her  happy.  Captain 
Blanchard,  as  an  evidence  of  his  love  for  Lizzie,  had 
promoted  her  brother  to  the  rank  of  sergeant,  soon 
after  the  first  introduction  to  the  family,  and  held  out 
to  him  the  promise  of  further  promotion  on  the  ocoa- 


216  MARGARET  MONCRIEPFK. 

sion  of  the  first  vacancy  in  the  company — a  promise 
which  he  soon  afterward  succeeded  in  redeeming,  and 
Albert  Brainard  received  his  commission  as  a  lieuten- 
ant, in  the  place  of  an  officer  dismissed  for  insulting 
and  striking  a  woman.  For  this  kindness,  brother  and 
sister  were  equally  grateful,  and  he  was  looked  upon 
"by  either  almost  as  an  idol. 

Such  was  the  position  of  matters  at  the  period  when 
Edmund  Blanchard  was  first  introduced  by  his  brother 
to  Margaret  Moncrieffe.  On  that  occasion  he  had  been 
completely  bewitched  by  her  beauty,  by  her  fascinating 
manners,  and,  above  all,  by  the  prospect  which,  with 
her  speaking  eyes,  she  had  held  out  to  him  of  a  colo- 
nelcy, in  reward  for  his  treason.  She  had,  even  in  that 
single  brief  interview,  effaced  almost  completely  the 
image  of  the  injured  Lizzie,  and  when  he  parted  from 
her,  he  found  his  greatest  pleasure  in  dwelling  upon 
her  bewitching  loveliness,  her  fascinating  smile,  and 
the  prospective  commission.  It  was,  with  every 
thought  thus  engrossed,  he  found  himself  almost 
unconsciously  at  the  door  of  Mrs.  Brainard's  shop,  for 
it  had,  of  late,  been  his  daily  habit  to  call  there  on 
some  pretext  or  other,  though  pretext  was  scarcely 
necessary,  for  Mrs.  Brainard  looked  upon  him  as  her 
future  son-in-law,  and  Lizzie  felt  that  he  was  to  be  her 
husband,  for  had  she  not  his  promise  ? 

He  was  received  by  Lizzie  as  he  ever  had  been,  from 
the  day  when  she  first  acknowledged  to  her  heart  her 


A   NEW    CHARACTER   1XTRODUCED.  217 

• 

own  feelings  for  him,  with  a  quiet  but  meaning  smile, 
which  spoke  more  than  volumes  of  mere  words  could 
have  done. 

But  he  scarcely  noticed  her  smile,  nor  returned  her 
words  of  friendly  greeting,  for  when  there  was  a  pos- 
sibility of  being  overheard,  she  confined  herself  to 
these.  Visions  of  Margaret,  of  her  matchless  beauty, 
her  bewitching  smile,  and  that  commission,  were  float- 
ing before  him,  and  throwing  his  cap  on  one  chair,  he 
took  a  seat  on  another,  with  a  moody,  abstracted  air, 
which  she  had  never  before  witnessed. 

"  Are  you  sick,  Edmund  ?"  she  asked  in  low  tones, 
but  every  word  breathed  the  deep  affection  which 
prompted  them. 

"  No,  not  sick,  Lizzie,  not  sick.  I  am  a  little  tired ; 
I  have  had  a  long  walk,  and  something  has  occurred 
which  has  excited  me  very  much,  to-day." 

"  May  I  know  it  ?"  she  asked,  in  tones  which  seemed 
to  convey  the  impression  that  she  was  touching  on  some- 
thing which  did  not  concern  her. 

"  Oh,  surely,"  he  replied.  "  By  some  chance,  for 
which  I  have  not  yet  learned  to  account,  I  met  to-day 
my  only  and  elder  brother,  Arthur.  I  think  you  must 
have  seen  him  here  with  some  of  our  officers.  He  is  a 
captain  in  the  king's  army,  on  parole  ;  we  have  not  seen 
each  other  for  fifteen  years." 

"  Oh,  I  know  him  very  well ;  he  has  often  been  here. 
And  he — is  that  your  brother?"  she  asked,  eagerly. 
10 


218  MARGARET  MONCEIEFFE. 

"  My  only  living  relative  on  earth,"  he  replied, 
sadly. 

"  How  bad  it  must  have  made  you  feel,  Edmund,  to 
meet  your  brother  under  such  circumstances,  fighting 
against  each  other.  Oh,  Edmund !  it  is  awful  to  think 
of;  suppose  you  and  he  should  ever  be  in  battle  ;  just 
think — brother  against  brother ;  why  don't  you  talk  to 
him,  and  show  him  how  unjust  the  king  is  acting  to- 
ward us?  Do,  Edmund,  do  talk  to  him,  and  make 
him  feel — for  I  know  you  can — how  deeply  we  are 
wronged." 

"  You  talk  like  a  little  fool,"  replied  the  soldier,  half- 
angrily ;  and  as  he  spoke,  his  face  fairly  crimsoned,  for 
her  words  cut  him  to  the  heart — him,  who  had  sold 
himself  for  gold,  and  for  gold  was  ready  to  betray  his 
country. 

"  Please  don't  speak  so,  Edmund,"  said  Lizzie,  the 
tears  gathering  in  her  eyes  at  his  words.  "  Don't  make 
me  feel  that  you  think  I  have  acted  like  a  fool." 

"  I  do  beg  your  pardon,  Lizzie,"  said  the  captain,  re- 
called to  himself  by  these  words,  and  gazing  upon  the 
beautiful  and  trusting  girl  with  his  wonted  look  of  affec- 
tion. "  I  did  not  mean  that ;  but  when  you  spoke  of 
asking  him  to  join  " 

"  Oh,  I  see  now ;  the  idea  of  asking  him  to  join  our 
cause  would  have  been  about  as  sensible  as  to  ask  you 
to  join  his.  Of  course,  I  forgive  you,  Edmund ;  I  did 
not  mean  anything  wrong  by  my  foolish  words." 


A   NEW   CHARACTER   INTRODUCER.  210 

**  Come,  Lizzie,  never  mind  that,"  he  said,  again  col 
oring  deeply,  for  her  words  had  cut  him  to  the  quick : 
•*  We  won't  talk  of  that  any  more ;  what  have  you 
heard  to-day  ?" 

"  Oh,  not  much ;  there  have  been  half  a  dozen  here  to- 
day, but  they  don't  seem  to  know  much  of  what  is 
going  on.  Everybody  thinks  that  Lord  Howe  is  coming 
here  to  sack  and  burn  the  city.  For  my  part,  I  don't 
believe  any  such  thing ;  do  you,  Edmund  ?" 

"  No,"  he  answered,  half  abstractedly,  for  he  dared 
not  make  any  other  reply  lest  he  should  commit  him- 
self. "Suppose,  Lizzie,  they  should  come  and  land 
troops  all  around  us,  and  hem  us  in,  and  offer 
terms." 

"I'd  die,  for  one,"  she  interrupted,  "  before  I  would 
surrender ;  no,  no,  Edmund,  no  terms  for  me ;  death  or 
liberty !"  and  her  eyes  fairly  flashed  with  the  enthusiasm 
which  animated  her. 

"  You  did  not  hear  me  out,  Lizzie,"  said  Edmund, 
almost  shamed  into  honor  by  this  noble  girl.  "  Sup- 
pose we  found  it  impossible  to  hold  the  city,  and  Lord 
Howe  offered  not  only  pardon,  but  rewards  to  those 
who  would  return  to  their  allegiance  to  the  king." 

"  I  don't  think  I  heard  you  rightly,  Edmund,"  she 
said,  and  he  repeated  his  sentence. 

"  Well,  go  on." 

"  Suppose  he  was  to  offer  me  a  colonel's  commission  ?» 
he  continued. 


320  MAEGAEET  MONCEIKFFB. 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  what  I  would  do  ?" 

"  Of  course ;  I  asked  for  the  purpose  of  learning 
your  opinion." 

"  I  would  tear  it  up  and  throw  it  in  his  face,"  ex- 
claimed the  enthusiastic  patriot,  "and  tell  him  that 
twenty  commissions  could  not  purchase  my  freedom, 
nor  could  he  quench  my  love  of  liberty  with  all  the  gold 
his  master  owned." 

Edmund  Blanchard  fairly  quailed  and  cowered  be- 
neath her  glance,  as  Lizzie  spoke.  As  yet,  he  had  not 
dared  to  confide  to  her  his  treason,  for  he  had  hoped  to 
win  her  to  his  views,  and  through  her,  her  brother  ;  but 
these  words  effectually  crushed  all  such  hopes,  and  with 
a  deep  sigh,  his  head  sank  upon  his  breast,  and  for  a 
few  moments  he  sat  mute  and  motionless. 

"  And  what  is  the  matter,  Edmund  ?"  asked  Lizzie, 
as  she  noticed  his  changed  appearance  and  man- 
ners. 

"  Nothing,"  he  said,  with  an  appearance  of  careless- 
ness which  his  looks  belied,  as  he  raised  his  head,  "  I 
was  only  thinking." 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  of  such  things.  When  we  can't 
hold  the  city  we  can  leave  it,  and  if  no  one  else  will  do 
It,  I  will  volunteer  to  set  it  on  fire,  before  the  king's 
troops  shall  hold  it  one  hour.  No,  no,  Captain  Blanch- 
ard, you  will  always  find  me  as  you  first  knew  me ;  and 
when  I  change  from  my  love  and  devotion  to  my  coun- 
try, I  will  give  you  leave  to  find  another  if  you  can, 


A.  XEW   CHARACTER  INTRODUCED  221 

who,"  and  she  sank  her  voice  to  a  low  whisper,  "  will 
love  you  as  I  have  done." 

Poor  Lizzie  !  she  was  cutting  slowly  but  surely,  by 
such  words,  the  cord  which  bound  her  lover  to  her. 
Every  word  she  had  uttered,  expressing  the  deep  lov« 
she  bore  for  her  country,  and  her  determination  to 
sacrifice  even  her  life  for  its  welfare,  was  a  severance 
of  some  slender  thread ;  for  he  was  so  completely 
wrapped  up  in  the  idea  which  Margaret  had  not  in 
reality  held  out  to  him,  but  which  he  had  construed  as 
he  wished,  of  promotion  in  the  cause  which  he  had 
espoused,  and  so  wholly  engrossed  was  he  by  her  beauty 
and  the  bright  smile  which  gleamed  on  him  (even  now 
in  Lizzie's  presence),  that  the  words  of  Lizzie  sounded 
like  reproaches  to  him,  and  because  he  knew  he 
deserved  them,  he  felt  them  the  more  keenly. 

He  was  glad,  therefore,  when  Lizzie  changed  the 
conversation,  and  turned  it  into  the  channel  in  which 
her  own  thoughts  were  running,  namely,  her  love  for 
Edmund,  and  the  hope  of  speedily  becoming  his  own. 
In  this  he  joined  with  his  usual  apparent  cheerfulness  ; 
but,  in  spite  of  himself,  there  was  an  air  of  constraint 
about  him  which  the  eye  of  love  readily  perceived,  and 
which  his  very  efforts  to  conceal  made  only  the  more 
palpable. 

When  he  took  his  leave,  she  retired  to  her  post 
behind  the  little  counter,  resuming  her  work ;  but, 
as  she  did  so,  she  heard  a  deep  sigh.  It  was 


222  MABGABET  MONCBIEFFB. 

the  echo  from  her  own   heart,  and  that  foreboded, 

in  very  spite   of  herself,   some  sorrow,   sadness,   or 

trouble ;    for,   "  coming    events  cast    their   shadows 
before/* 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MAJOR  BUEE,   AND   COEBIE   THE  TORY. 

WE  left  General  Putnam  in  close  consultation  with 
his  aid  as  to  the  extraordinary  disappearance  of  Seth 
Adams. 

The  old  general  was  perfectly  furious  when  the 
report  was  made  to  him  that  no  tidings  had  been 
received  of  the  young  Jerseyman.  He  denounced 
him  as  a  traitor.  He  would  offer  a  reward  for  his 
restoration,  dead  or  alive.  If  dead,  he  would  have  his 
body  hung  in  chains,  as  a  terror  to  any  who  might  feel 
inclined  to  follow  in  his  footsteps ;  if  alive,  he  would 
have  him  whipped  to  death. 

Major  Burr  suffered  the  passionate  old  general  to 
exhaust  his  wrath  on  his  suppositions ;  and  when  he 
had  recovered  a  little  composure,  he  ventured  to  sug- 
gest that  it  might  be  as  well  to  institute  an  investiga- 
tion. As  for  Adams,  he  knew  him  so  well,  he  would 
stake  his  life  on  his  fidelity  ;  and  acquainted  as  he  was 
with  his  coolness  and  shrewdness,  he  was  perfectly 
confident  that  something  had  occurred  beyond  the 
power  of  man  to  control,  or  he  would  have  made  his 
report  at  the  hour  specified. 


'224  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  It's  all  very  well  to  talk,  major — all  very  well  to 
talk,"  and  the  general  treated  his  nose  to  an  extraor- 
dinary quantity  of  snuff ;  "  but  there's  the  fact.  He  went, 
and  he  hasn't  come  back.  Now,  sir,  explain  that." 

"  I  cannot,  general,  until  I  make  some  inquiries. 
Major  Gibbs,  you  see,  reports,"  and  he  pointed  to  the 
letter  from  the  commander  of  the  Life  Guard,  "  that 
Adams  was  seen  at  Corbie's  at  half-past  eight." 

"  D — n  that  Corbie  !  D — n  the  whole  of  his  infernal 
tribe !  I  have  a  great  mind  to  hang  every  man  of 
them,  and  report  to  the  general  when  he  comes  back 
that  they  have  been  hung  as  spies.  Yes,"  he  con- 
tinued, his  anger  again  getting  the  better  of  him, 
"  and  I  would  commence  with  that  infernal  scoundrel, 
Forbes — he's  the  worst  of  all." 

"  Suppose  I  investigate  the  matter,  general  ?"  sug 
gested  the  aid. 

"  Suppose  we  hang  'em  first,  Burr,  and  investigate 
afterward.  I  don't  believe  any  one  would  find  much 
fault." 

"  But  they  might  not  like  it,"  replied  the  major,  sug- 
gestively ;  and  the  idea  so  pleased  the  old  general,  he 
broke  into  a  loud  laugh,  and,  directing  the  major  to 
act  as  he  thought  proper,  left  the  room  to  prepare  for 
dinner ;  for  he  was  as  simple  in  his  habits  as  he  was 
brave,  generous,  and  confiding,  and  did  not  disdain  to 
confess  to  hunger  at  noon,  especially  when  he  had  been 
on  active  duty  since  six  in  the  morning. 


MAJOR   BURR,   ANT)   CORBIE  THE  TOBY.  225 

Major  Burr  hurried  through  the  remainder  of  the 
papers  which  required  attention ;  and  having  ordered 
his  horse  to  be  brought  up,  prepared  to  start  for  Cor- 
bie's house,  with  the  intention  of  learning  for  himself, 
so  far  as  he  could,  the  probable  fate  of  the  young 
soldier  who  had  been  intrusted  by  him  with  a  duty  at 
once  so  delicate  and  so  hazardous. 

As  he  was  buckling  on  his  sword,  the  door  of  the 
apartment  was  gently  opened,  and  the  well-known  face 
of  her  to  whom  he  had  sold  his  very  soul,  in  exchange 
for  her  love  and  smiles,  peered  in. 

"  May  I  come  in  ?" 

"  Yes,  for  I  am  going  out,"  was  the  reply  of  the 
major ;  but  uttered  in  playful  tones. 

"  Well,  that  is  certainly  an  inducement  to  enter," 
she  said,  in  a  similar  strain.  "  Pray,  are  you  going  to 
battle  ?"  and  she  looked  inquiringly  at  his  sword. 

"  I  hardly  know  what  I  may  meet,  Margaret,"  he 
said.  "  I  am  going  to  that  infernal  scoundrel,  Corbie, 
to  learn,  if  I  can,  what  has  become  of  poor  Seth." 

"  And  pray,  who  is  poor  Seth  ?"  she  inquired. 

"  Oh,  I  forgot !  The  fact  is,  between  love  and  war 
I  am  getting  a  little  confused,  I  am  afraid." 

"  I  hope  your  memory  will  not  desert  you  entirely," 
she  said,  playfully  but  meaningly. 

Major  Burr  caught  the  full  import  of  her  words,  and 
as  he  met  her  ardent,  loving  gaze,  he  forgot  everything 
again,  but  her  and  her  love. 

10* 


220  MAKGABET   MONCKIEFFB 

"  Fear  not,  Margaret ;  the  prize  offered  is  too  great 
for  human  resistance.  Seth  is  a  young  Jerseyman,  a 
cousin  of  Patsy,  by  the  way,  who  was  with  me.  Why 
Margaret,  what  have  I  said?"  he  exclaimed,  as  she 
turned  from  him  with  moistened  eyes. 

"  Oh,  nothing,  Aaron,  nothing.  I  see  that  your  me- 
mory has  not  failed  you,  for  Patsy's  cousin  can  make 
you  " 

"  Good  Heavens,  Margaret !"  he  interrupted,  "  how 
can  you  be  so  unreasonable  ?  It  is  not  because  he  is 
Patsy's  cousin,  but  because  he  has  been  my  trusty  fol- 
lower through  every  hardship.  I  sent  him  on  a  mission 
last  night  of  great  delicacy.  He  has  not  returned,  and 
I  am  really  anxious  for  his  safety." 

"  Because  he  is  Patsy 's  cousin  ?"  asked  Margaret,  look, 
ing  sadly  but  tenderly  in  his  face. 

"  Because  I  love  the  young  man  for  his  courage,  devo- 
tion and  fidelity,  and  only  therefore,  Margaret.  Do  not 
be  silly  or  unreasonable.  If  you  do  not  know  me,  learn 
to  know  me  now.  I  have  no  thought,  or  hope,  or  wish 
disconnected  from  you,  but  I  have  duties  to  discharge." 

"True,  Aaron,"  said  Margaret,  her  countenance 
brightening  at  his  words,  "  I  was  selfish,  and  I  am 
afraid,"  she  added,  looking  lovingly  into  his  face,  "  1 
was  a  little  jealous;  you  will  forgive  me,  won't  you?" 

"  I  forgive  everything,  Margaret,  but  a  suspicion  of 
my  devotion  to  you.  I  am  yours,  and  yours  only." 

"  But  who  is  this  Corbie,  and  what  is  he  ?" 


MAJOR   BURR,    AND   CORBIE  THE  TORY.  227 

"  Oh,  a  pestilent,  turbulent  fellow,  who  keeps  a  low 
drinking-house  near  Richmond  Hill.  I  wonder  the 
commander-in-chief  allows  it.  We  think  the  house  i* 

the  head-quarters  of" but  he  checked  himself,  and 

did  not  finish  his  sentence,  for  he  remembered  he,  too, 
had  been  bought  with  a  price.  "  But  come,  I  cannot 
stop  to  discuss  such  matters  with  you  now,"  he  conti- 
nued, "  I  must  be  off.  Shall  I  see  you  again,  to-day  ?" 

"  I  am  not  afraid  to  walk  in  the  garden,"  she  replied, 
with  a  demure  look,  "  and  if  you  choose  to  see  that  I 
am  not  interrupted,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you.  I  love 
to  walk  on  moonlight  nights,  and  think  or  " — and  she 
bent  her  head  close  to  his  own — "  talk,  as  the  case  may 
be.  I  never  walk  before  nine  or  ten  o'clock  at  night." 

*'  You  shall  be  secure  from  any  disagreeable  intru- 
sion," said  the  major,  and  imprinting  a  kiss  upon  her 
hand,  he  left  the  room,  and  Margaret  was  alone. 

A  sharp  ride  of  some  fifteen  minutes  brought  him  to 
Corbie's  house,  where  he  dismounted,  and  giving  hia 
horse  in  charge  to  an  orderly  who  had  followed  him, 
entered  the  place. 

He  was  received  by  Corbie,  who  was  alone  (for  at 
that  hour  of  the  day  the  soldiers  were  at  dinner,  and 
the  loyalists  who  frequented  his  house  rarely  came  there 
in  the  day-time),  with  a  profusion  of  bows  and  scrapes, 
and  expressions  of  gratification  at  the  honor  conferred 
upon  him  by  this  visit,  from  an  officer  of  such  distino 
tion  as  Major  Burr. 


228  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  You  need  not  take  any  great  credit  to  yourseltj 
Corbie,  for  this  visit,  and  perhaps  you  won't  think  it 
much  of  an  honor  before  I  leave  you.  Sit  down,  Cor- 
bie, and  answer  my  questions." 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  sitting  down,  major,  in  your 
presence,  but  I  will  answer  any  questions  your  honor 
may  ask.  Won't  your  honor  permit  me  to  offer  you 
some  old  Southside  ?  There  ain't  its  equal,  I  know,  in 
New  York  ;  at  least  Colonel  Fanning  says  so,  and  he's 
a  first-rate  judge." 

"  Colonel  Fanning !  and  who  is  Colonel  Fanning, 
Corbie  ?" 

"  Oh,  bless  you,  sir,  don't  you  know  Colonel  Fan- 
ning?" replied  the  landlord,  whose  face  would  have 
flushed  if  it  <"""!<!,  through  the  roseate  hues  that  dyed 
his  cheeks  at  this  slip  of  the  tongue.  "  Oh,  sir,  he  be- 
longs to  the  regular  army,  and  he  used  to  come  over 
here  with  his  friends  on  purpose  to  drink  some  of  that. 
S'pose  you  try  a  glass  major,  I  do  assure  you  " 

"No  matter  just  now,  Corbie.  There  was  a  young 
man  here  last  night,  named  Adams," 

"  I  know  him,  major ;  a  tall,  sandy-haired;  rather 
well-favored  young  man,"  replied  the  host,  who  had 
now  fully  recovered  his  composure.  "  He  said  he  was 
from  Jersey." 

"  The  very  man  ;  you  seem  to  know  him  pretty  well.'* 

"  And  I  ought  to  remember  him.  He  came  in  soon 
after  eight  and  had  three  stiff  glasses  right  atop  of  one 


MAJOR   BUKE,    AXD   COKBIE  THE  TOET.  22 1 

another,  and  then  his  tongue  began  to  wag,  and  he  told 
me  who  he  was." 

"  Well,  go  on." 

"  He  said  he  wanted  to  'list  with  the  king's  troops, 
and  I  told  him  he'd  come  to  the  wrong  place  for 
that.  I  told  him  I  was  under  heavy  bonds,  and  that 
I  wouldn't  abuse  the  general's  confidence  by  no  man- 
ner of  means.  Fact  is,  major,  he  was  desperately 
drunk." 

"  Well,  and  what  then  ?"  inquired  the  major,  with  an 
air  of  apparent  concern,  for  Corbie's  air  and  manner 
were  so  truthful,  Major  Burr  could  find  no  reason  to 
doubt  him. 

"  Why,  he  staid  and  staid  till  there  was  nobody  here 
but  Forbes  and  me.  You  see,  major,  Forbes  lives  away 
down  in  the  city,  and  when  he  gets  belated,  I  always 
give  him  a  bed,  cause  you  know  we're  old  countrymen. 
So,  as  I  said,  he  staid  and  staid,  and  I  couldn't  get  him 
away,  and  the  first  thing  I  knew,  we  heard  tattoo,  and 
then  I  swore  he  should  go,  'cause  if  he  was  found  here 
at  that  time  of  night,  it  would  be  worse  for  me  than 
him ;  and  so  Forbes  and  I  put  him  out  and  shut  the 
house  up  'cording  to  orders.  I  try  to  keep  my  house 
quiet  and  orderly,  but,  major,  there's  some  desperate 
hard  drinkers  as  comes  here,  and  I'm  afraid  they  will 
give  me  a  deal  of  trouble  yet." 

Major  Burr  mused  a  moment,  and  turning  to  Corbie, 
or  rather  looking  him  full  in  the  face,  he  said : 


230  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  And  no  one  but  Forbes  and  yourself  were  in  the 
house  when  he  left  ?" 

"  He  didn't  leave,"  replied  the  wily  publican,  who 
saw  through  the  question  in  an  instant.  "  Forbes  and 
I  put  him  out." 

"Ah,  yes,  I  remember.  Well,  I  will  see  Forbes; 
but,  Corbie,  you  had  better  be  careful.  You  know 
your  house  is  suspected  as  being  the  head-quarters  of 
all  the  mischief  going  on,  and  if  General  Putnam 
catches  you  at  anything  wrong,  he  will  relieve  your 
bondsman  and  put  you — you  know  where,"  and  the 
young  officer  looked  at  the  landlord  very  mean- 
ingly. 

Now  these  words  might  have  been  interpreted  as  a 
caution  or  a  threat,  and  they  were  intended  to  be 
ambiguous,  but  the  speaker  well  knew  that  the  impres- 
sion in  either  case  would  be  the  same. 

"  Major,  I've  heard  that  before ;  but  I  tell  you  1  do 
all  I  can  to  keep  a  quiet  house,  and  I  make  it  a  rule 
never  to  allow  any  one  to  talk  on  subjects  which  might 
occasion  trouble.  General  Putnam  will  never  catch 
me  at  anything  wrong,"  and  it  was  the  landlord's  turn 
to  look  meaningly  at  the  officer,  for  his  words  also 
would  bear  two  constructions. 

Major  Burr  turned  quietly  away,  and  saying,  "  I 
will  see  Forbes  myself,"  was  about  taking  his  leave, 
when  the  host,  starting  forward,  said  eagerly : 

"  But,  major,  won't  you  try  some  of  that  old  South- 


MAJOR   BUKK,   AND   CORBIE  THE  TOBY.  281 

side  ?  I  do  assure  you,  there  ain't  anything  like  it  in 
New  York." 

"  Xo,  thank  you,  Corbie,"  was  the  major's  reply, 
still  moving  toward  the  door,  and  without  turning 
round,  continued :  "  Mind,  Corbie,  be  careful,  and 
don't  get  caught  in  any  trouble." 

"  I  won't,  I  promise  you,  major.  I'm  sorry  you 
won't  try  my  Southside.  Perhaps  you'd  let  me  send 
you  a  case  ?" 

"  By  no  means,"  hastily  replied  the  major,  turning 
round  and  facing  the  landlord,  and  he  spoke  so  eagerly 
and  quickly  that  a  faint,  meaning  smile  crossed  the 
Tory's  face.  In  another  moment  he  was  alone,  and  as 
the  door  closed  upon  the  receding  form  of  the  officer, 
he  muttered : 

"  I  wonder  what  the  devil  that  fellow  means !  No 
matter ;  I  thank  him  for  his  caution,  or  threat,  as  it 
may  be.  He'll  see  Forbes,  will  he  ?  Much  good  may 
it  do  him  !"  and  he  chuckled  to  himself  with  evident 
satisfaction. 

Major  Burr,  after  stopping  a  few  moments  to  pay  a 
call  on  the  commander  of  the  Life  Guard,  Major  Gibbs, 
rode  down  Broadway,  and  reined  up  in  front  of  Forbes' 
door.  The  shop  was  half  filled  with  customers,  or 
rather  visitors,  among  whom  were  several  Provincial 
customers,  and  the  brothers  Blanchard,  of  whose  rela- 
tionship, however,  he  was  as  yet  ignorant.  As  he 
entered  the  shop,  he  saluted  the  younger  of  the  two 


232  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFB. 

with  great  cordiality,  and  complimented  him  npon  the 
appearance  and  discipline  of  his  company,  which,  he 
said  (and  he  spoke  in  the  name  of  General  Putnam), 
any  captain  might  be  proud  to  command,  and  he  only 
wished  the  rest  of  the  regiment  was  like  it. 

Captain  Blanch ard  colored,  and  looked  pleased  at 
this  official  praise,  for  although  Major  Burr  was  his 
junior  by  many  years,  his  rank  and  well-earned  repu- 
tation rendered  even  his  praises  pleasing,  and  begged 
to  introduce  his  brother,  the  Royalist. 

"  Ah,  yes,  captain,  I  have  often  seen  you,"  he  said 
cordially  extending  his  hand.  "  I  remember  meeting 
you  at  Colonel  Shee's  ball.  You  seemed  to  know 
Miss  Moncrieffe  very  well." 

"  Ever  since  she  was  born,  sir.  Her  father  and  my- 
self have  been  friends  from  boyhood.  She  is  a  very 
lovely  girl." 

"  Very  lovely,"  replied  Major  Burr,  hurriedly,  ior 
he  felt  the  color  was  coming  to  his  cheeks,  and  hastily 
excusing  himself  for  a  few  moments,  he  went  to  the 
rear  of  the  shop,  where  Forbes  was  engaged,  and 
requested,  or  rather  commanded,  him  to  retire  to  the 
back  room  for  a  few  minutes. 

Forbes  was  fain  to  comply,  and  when  the  door  was 
closed,  he  was  submitted  to  an  examination  similar  to 
that  which  Corbie  had  undergone,  but  there  was  no 
variance  in  their  narratives,  and  Major  Burr  felt  that, 
as  they  were  the  only  witnesses  who  could  shed  any 


MAJOR   BUEE,   AND   COEBIE   THIS  TOET.  233 

light  upon  the  occurrences  of  the  evening,  whatever 
they  might  have  been,  it  would  be  useless  to  pursue 
the  investigation  further,  and  with  a  caution  to  the 
gunsmith  not  to  meddle  with  what  did.  not  concern 
him,  he  returned  to  the  store  and  joined  the  group  of 
officers  assembled  there.  A  few  moments  were  passed 
in  social  chat,  when  he  took  his  leave,  and  rode  directly 
to  his  quarters,  where  he  reported  to  General  Putnam 
the  result  of  the  inquiries  he  had  just  made,  and  he  was 
about  closing  with  an  expression  of  his  confidence  in 
the  integrity  of  Seth  Adams,  when  the  old  general 
broke  forth  in  a  perfect  tornado  of  denunciation  and 
invective. 

"  Adams,  he  knew,  was  a  deserter — had  been  bought 
over  to  the  enemy,  and,  curse  him,  he'd  have  him  hung 
if  a  hundred  pounds  could  accomplish  it !" 

Major  Burr  listened,  of  course,  without  interruption, 
for  he  might  as  well  have  attempted  to  stem  the  tor- 
rent of  Niagara  as  soothe  the  old  general's  wrath  when 
once  aroused. 

When  he  had  exhausted  himself,  he  closed  by  a 
threat  to  have  every  one  of  those  infernal  Tory  hot- 
houses of  treason  closed,  and  their  keepers  either 
imprisoned  or  hung,  and  wound  up,  as  he  took  a  tre- 
mendous pinch  of  snuff,  by  directing  his  aid  to  go  to 
the  office  and  prepare  a  reply  to  a  communication  from 
the  commander-in-chief,  who  had  written  for  certain 
information  on  behalf  of  the  committee  of  Congress, 


234  MAEGAKET  MONCRIEFFB. 

He  was  soon  immersed  in  his  work,  but  if  he  could 
have  been  watched,  an  observer  might  have  noticed 
that  he  often  laid  his  pen  upon  the  table,  and  gave 
way  to  fits  of  musing.  At  times  his  thoughts  were 
evidently  troubled,  and  again  his  countenance  was 
lighted  up  by  a  smile  of  almost  rapturous  happiness. 

Was  he  thinking  of  his  treason,  or  Margaret's  love, 
or  both? 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

MARGARET   FINDS   A   NEW   LOTEB. 

THE  brothers  Blanchard  were  seated  in  the  apart- 
ments occupied  by  the  Royalist,  and  over  a  bottle  of 
wine  had  been  discussing  not  only  their  present  pros- 
pects,  but  had  enjoyed  a  long  talk  over  old  times. 

"  By  the  way,  Edmund,"  said  the  elder,  "  you  have 
called,  I  find,  very  often  on  Miss  Moncrieffe.  Xow 
don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself  there.  Pardon  me,"  he 
said,  as  he  noticed  his  brother's  heightened  color, 
"  but  I  speak  only  for  your  good.  She  is  a  desperate 
flirt  and  coquette.  I  have  known  her  almost  from 
infancy,  and  I  know  what  I  say.  As  a  devoted  Royal- 
ist, she  is  of  infinite  service  to  us,  and  is  esteemed 
accordingly  ;  but  I  know  her  thoroughly.  Mark  my 
words,  Edmund,  she  does  not  care  any  more  for  you 
than  for  the  orderly  who  waits  on  you.  She  will  use 
you  to  her  heart's  content — lead  you  on  surely,  and  then 
laugh  at  your  folly.  You  had  better  wait  until  this 
infernal  war  is  over,  and  when  we  reach  home  you  will 
find  some  one  to  appreciate  you  and  make  you  happy. 
You  have  your  captain's  commission  now  ?" 

"  Oh,   yes !     Governor  Tryon  sent  that   to   me   at 


236  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

once,  with  my  pay,  and  I  receive  my  subsistence  money 
regularly  every  week." 

"  Then  be  content  for  the  present.  I  have  no  doubt 
you  will  earn  and  receive  promotion  in  due  time." 

"  Do  you  think,"  interrupted  Edmund,  "  that  com- 
mission Miss  Moncrieffe  asked  for,  was  for  me  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  think  of  her  conduct  in  that 
aftair.  You  are  the  only  commissioned  officer  at 
present  engaged  with  us,  and  it  may  be  that  she  has — 
well,  I  don't  know — I  can't  say,"  he  continued,  inter- 
rupting his  own  sentence.  "  She  is  a  queer,  unman- 
ageable  girl,  and  may  have  taken  a  sudden  fancy  " 

"  To  me  ?»  asked  Edmund,  eagerly.  "  Do  you  think 
so?" 

"To  you!  No,  Edmund;  don't  be  so  foolish.  I 
meant  to  say  that  she  might  have  taken  a  fancy  to 
show  an  appreciation  of  your  services,  or  rather  what 
she  expects  of  you.  But  look  out  for  her ;  she  will 
lead  you  a  chase,  and  then  hide  from  you  at  the  last 
moment." 

"  Well,"  said  Edmund,  rising,  with  something  of  a 
sigh,  "  I  must  return  to  my  quarters ;  it  is  nearly  the 
hour  for  drill." 

"  I  will  walk  with  you  part  of  the  way.  I  have  to 
stop  at  Mrs.  Brainard's  and  see  about  some  shirts  she 
is  making  up  for  me,"  and  the  young  Provincial  turned 
away  to  conceal  a  blush  which  the  mention  of  this 
name  had  called  to  his  face.  He  had  not  dared  to 


M  AEG  ABET  FINDS   A  NEW  LOVER.  23? 

confide  to  his  brother  the  fact  of  his  acquaintance  and 
connection  with  that  family,  and  dreaded  lest  he 
should  discover  it.  For  an  instant  he  hesitated  whether 
or  not  he  should  disclose  it  to  him,  but  for  very  fear 
he  decided  not  to  do  so,  trusting  to  chance  it  might 
pass  unknown,  and  hoping  that  Lizzie  would  not  avail 
herself  of  the  information  he  had  imparted  as  to  his 
relationship  to  the  Royalist  officer. 

These  thoughts  ran  through  his  brain  while  he  was 
buckling  on  his  sword,  which,  on  his  entrance,  he  had 
laid  aside,  and  turning  to  his  brother  with  an  air  of 
well-assumed  composure,  he  declared  his  readiness  to 
accompany  him  as  far  as  their  roads  led  together. 

Arm  in  arm,  they  proceeded  up  Broadway,  until 
they  reached  John  street,  when,  with  the  promise  of 
soon  seeing  each  other  again,  they  separated,  the  one 
to  join  the  company  which  he  did  not  intend  to  lead  to 
battle  in  his  country's  defence,  the  other  to  visit  the 
humble  shop  of  the  widow  Brainard. 

Since  the  conversation  with  Edmund,  Lizzie  had 
been  anxiously  looking  for  the  Royalist  captain  ;  for,  in 
the  guilelessness  of  her  own  heart,  she  felt  that  her 
lover  must  of  course  have  made  known  to  his  brother 
their  position  ;  not  the  sacrifice  she  had  made  for  him, 
but  the  promise  he  had  made  to  her.  When,  there- 
fore, she  perceived  him  entering  the  little  shop,  she 
greeted  him  with  a  smile  and  blush,  both  of  which 
were  so  unwonted  with  her,  they  attracted  his  atten- 


238  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

tion  ;  for  Lizzie,  since  she  had  acquired  sad  experience 
by  intercourse  with  the  gay  and  dissolute  Provincial 
officers,  had  ever  been  noted  for  her  reserved  manner. 

"  Walk  in,  captain,"  she  said,  rising  from  her  seat 
behind  the  counter ;  "  take  a  seat.  Mother,  Edmund's 

brother  is  here  for  his Oh  !  I  beg  your  pardon, 

sir,"  she  said,  crimsoning  as  she  turned  again  to  him — 
"  we  call  him  Edmund  here  always.  Captain  Blan- 
chard,  I  mean." 

"And  pray,  Miss  Lizzie,  why  should  you  beg  my 
pardon  ?"  asked  the  Royalist,  whose  interest  was  ex- 
cited by  this  little  episode,  and  who,  thinking  there 
might  be  more  behind  than  he  had  dreamed  of,  deter- 
mined to  ascertain  the  truth. 

"  Oh !  really,  captain,  I  spoke  hastily,  and  I  beg  your 
pardon  ;  but  he  was  here  a  day  or  two  ago,  and  he  told 
me  he  met  his  brother  whom  he  had  not  seen  in  ever 
so  many  years,  and  when  he  told  me  who  it  was,  I 
knew  it  was  you,  and — and  " 

"  And  that  is  why  you  begged  my  pardon  ?'»  he 
asked,  with  an  arch  look. 

"  Oh,  no,  sir !  but  I  did  not  mean  to  use  his  name  so 
familiarly  in  your  presence." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  see.  You  are  on  very  familiar  terms 
with  him  ;  but  you  did  not  wish  me  to  know  it." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir,"  said  Lizzie,  blushing  again. 
"Please,  sir,  if  you  will  walk  in  the  back  room,  mother 
is  just  putting  up  your  things  ;"  and  the  captain,  whose 


MARGARET  FINDS   A  NEW   LOVER.  289 

interest  and  curiosity  were  now  excited,  gladly  availed 
himself  of  her  invitation,  and  he  entered  the  little  back 
room  off  the  shop,  where  he  found  Mrs.  Brainard,  as 
Lizzie  had  said,  putting  up  "  his  things." 

•*  Captain,  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Brainard,  a  fine,  matronly  woman,  who  had,  perhaps, 
seen  fifty  summers.  "  Lizzie  was  saying  the  other  day 
that  Edmund  had  found  a  brother  whom  he  had  not 
seen  for  many  years,  and  we  were  right  glad  to  know 
it  was  you." 

"  Edmund  again,"  thought  the  captain  ;  but  he  said : 
"  Yes,  Mrs.  Brainard,  it  was  a  very  pleasant  meeting, 
after  an  absence  of  fifteen  years.  I  only  remembered 
Edmund  as  a  little  boy,  and,  to  meet  him  as  I  did,  was 
a  great  surprise,  you  may  well  imagine." 

"  We  think  all  the  world  of  him  here,  captain,"  con» 
tinued  th-e  old  lady  ;  "  and,  as  for  Lizzie,  why  she  thinks 
him  about  perfection." 

"  Ah  !  that  accounts  for  it,"  thought  the  captain,  as 
he  recalled  the  smile  and  the  blush  which  greeted  his 
entrance  ;  but  he  said  :  "  Yes,  I  know  ;  and  of  course 
he  thinks  as  much  of  her  ?" 

"  I  hope  he  does,"  said  Mrs.  Brainard,  looking  up 
from  the  work  she  was  smoothing  down,  preparatory 
to  tying  it  up.  "  If  he  don't,  he's  told  a  good  many — 
lies,  I  suppose  I  must  call  'em,"  and  she  gave  him  a 
meaning  glance. 

"  Oh,  Edmund  would  not  tell  lies,  I  am  sure  ;  and  I 


240  MARGARET   MOXCKIEFFE. 

don't  blame  him  for  thinking  much  of  your  daughter j 
for  she  is  certainly  a  very  lovely  and  a  very  modest, 
well-behaved  girl." 

"  She  is  a  good  girl,  captain,  and  that's  better  than 
being  lovely ;  and  she'll  make  him  a  good  wife,  I 
know.  She  would  make  a  good  wife  for  any  man." 

Captain  Blanchard  was  a  thorough  man  of  the  world, 
an  old  soldier,  and  a  campaigner,  and  it  was  a  rare 
thing  for  him  to  be  taken  by  surprise :  but  these  words 
of  the  simple-hearted  widow  did  make  him  start.  She 
did  not  observe  it,  however,  for,  as  she  finished  her 
sentence,  she  bent  her  head  again  to  her  work. 

"  Yes,  madam,  she  would  make  a  good  wife  for  any 
man  ;  but  Edmund  did  not  tell  me  when  it  was  to  come 
off.  When  does  she  expect  to  be  married  ?" 

"  Oh,  as  soon  as  this  war  is  over.  He  calculates  it 
can't  last  much  longer,  and  then  " 

Her  sentence  was  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  some 
half  dozen  officers,  who,  under  pretext  of  giving  orders 
for  work,  and  examining  the  small  stock  of  goods  in 
the  shop,  sought  the  opportunity  of  chatting  with  Lizzie. 

Captain  Blanchard  listened  to  their  silly  prattle  for  a 
few  minutes,  and,  while  he  was  disgusted  with  them, 
he  was  perfectly  delighted  with  the  modest  and  correct 
deportment  and  language  of  Lizzie.  She  listened  to 
their  fulsome  compliments,  for  she  had  no  choice  but  to 
listen  ;  but  her  replies  were  so  worded  as  to  convey  the 
unmistakable  impressioB  that  she  fully  understood  and 


MARGARET   FINE/"'    A   NEW   LOVER.  241 

appreciated  their  promptings,  and  never  for  a  angle 
instant  did  she  forget  her  self-respect. 

Finding  themselves  foiled  at  every  point,  the  officers 
took  their  leave,  each  one  as  he  went  out  saluting  her 
with  some  compliment  which  was  meant  to  be  expressh  e 
of  his  own  personal  admiration  ;  but  Lizzie  listened  in 
silence,  and  gently  courtesied  them  out. 

Captain  Blanchard  had  overheard  every  word  that 
had  passed  during  the  interview ;  had  noticed  the  per- 
fect propriety  of  Lizzie's  conduct  and  language,  and 
taking  up  the  bundle  which  Mrs.  Brainard  had  put  up 
for  him,  he  reentered  the  shop,  and  as  he  again  met 
the  bright  smile  and  blush  of  the  young  girl,  he  took 
off  his  cap  with  an  air  of  respect,  and  said,  with  deep 
earnestness :  "  1  think  with  your  mother,  Miss  Lizzie, 
that  you  will  make  a  good  wife  for  any  man ;"  and, 
with  a  courteous  bow,  he  left  the  shop. 

Lizzie's  heart  beat  with  fearful  rapidity  as  she  heard 
these  words,  for  they  told  her  that  she  had  been  the 
subject  of  conversation  between  the  captain  and  her 
mother. 

"  Oh,  mother,  what  have  you  been  saying  ?"  she  ex- 
claimed, entering  the  room  where  her  mother  was 
seated,  plying  her  busy  needle. 

"  Well,  daughter,  I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by 
such  a  question." 

"  What  have  you  been  saying  about  me  to  Captain 
Blanchard  ?" 

11 


242  MARGARET    MOXCRIEFFE. 

"  Why,  I  don't  know  as  I  said  anything  very  parti- 
cular.     I  told  him  you  and  Edmund  was  going  to  be 
married  as  soon  as  the  war  was  over,  and  he  said  aa 
how  you'd  make — no,  I  said  as  how  you'd  make  a  good  • 
wife  for  any  man." 

"  Oh,  mother,  how  could  you  ?"  asked  the  blushing 
girl. 

"  How  could  I !  ain't  he  Edmund's  brother,  and  ain't 
you  going  to  be  married  ?" 

**  Yes,  but,  mother  " 

"  Well,  what,  mother  ?  A  good  daughter  will  make 
a  good  wife,  I  know,  and  I'm  sure  you've  been  a  good 
daughter  to  me." 

At  these  words,  which  brought  home  to  poor  Lizzie 
the  consciousness  of  her  own  guilt,  she  blushed  crim- 
son ;  but  the  fond,  doting  mother,  not  dreaming  of  the 
cause,  attributed  her  blushes  to  the  fact  of  her  having 
spoken  so  plainly  of  her  expected  marriage  to  the 
brother  of  her  betrothed,  and  said,  with  an  apologetic 
air  :  "  Oh,  Lizzie,  dear,  I  didn't  mean  to  make  you  feel 
so  bad  about  it,  but  he  seemed  to  know  all,  and  so  I 
gpoke  freely  with  him." 

"  Did  he,  really  ?"  asked  Lizzie,  earnestly. 

"Oh,  yes;  when  I  spoke  about  it,  he  said  he  knew, 
onlv  Edmund  hadn't  told  him  when  it  was  to  <  ome  off; 
anil  so  I  told  him.  I  am  sure  there  was  no  harm  in 
that." 

"  No,  nothing ;"  said  Lizzie,  half  musingly,  but  she 


MARGARET   FIXDS   A   NEW   LOVER.  243 

was  thinking  of  the  words  which  the  captain  uttered  as 
he  was  leaving,  and  she  was  happy.  "  I  am  sure  I'll  try 
to  be  a  good  wife,  mother,  as  good  as  I  know  how  to 
be.  Dear,  dear  Edmund !"  she  murmured,  as,  leaving 
her  mother  at  her  work,  she  resumed  her  place  behind 
the  counter  of  her  little  shop. 


CHAPTER 

1CARGABET  RECEIVES  A  PKOPO8AL. 

EDMUND  BLANCHARD  could  not,  because  he  would  not, 
believe  what  his  more  experienced  brother  had  said 
concerning  Margaret,  and  he  determined  to  ascertain 
how  far  he  had  spo*en  correctly,  little  thinking  how 
recklessly  he  was  exposing  himself  to  the  most  imminent 
danger. 

The  next  morning,  therefore,  after  the  interview  with 
his  brother,  found  him  at  General  Putnam's  house,  and 
the  family  being  engaged  in  their  usual  avocations,  his 
heart  bounded  with  delight  when  he  found  he  was  per- 
mitted an  interview  with  Margaret,  alone.  He  had 
fully  prepared  himself  (mentally)  for  this  interview,  but 
to  say  his  heart  failed  him  when  she  entered  the  room, 
radiant  with  beauty,  and  wearing  her  most  fascinating 
smile,  would  be  but  feeble  truth ;  he  actually  trembled 
as  she  approached  and  held  out  her  hand,  which  he 
grasped  with  a  force  which  made  the  fair  girl  wince, 
but  which,  young  as  she  was,  let  her  into  his  secret. 

"  Well,  captain,"  she  said,  as  in  obedience  to  her  mo- 
tion, he  seated  himself,  and  she  drew  her  chair  near  to 
him,  "  what  word  have  you  ?" 

Ill 


MARGARET  RECEIVES   A  PROPOSAL.  245 

'Nothing,  Miss  Moncrieffe,  of  any  special  import- 
une. Nothing,  at  all  events,  worth  communicating  to 
our  friends.  And  you  ?" 

"  Oh,  matters  go  on  with  me  pleasantly  and  happily 
as  usual,  though  I  must  confess  I  am  tired  of  being 
cooped  up  here.  By  the  way,  where  is  your  brother, 
and  why  is  he  not  with  you  ?  When  did  you  see  him 
last?" 

"  We  dined  together  yesterday,  but  he  said  nothing 
of  coming  to  see  you." 

"  He  does  well  to  leave  that  to  you,"  said  Margaret, 
with  a  meaning  smile,  which  he  entirely  misinterpreted ; 
for  in  speaking  to  him,  she  had  but  one  purpose  in 
view,  the  accomplishment  of  the  project  in  which  she 
had  volunteered  her  services,  and  in  the  success  of 
which  she  felt  a  truly  deep  interest. 

"  My  brother  is  very  kind  to  deprive  himself  of  the 
privilege  he  allows  me,"  he  replied,  with  a  low  inclina- 
tion of  the  head,  accompanied  by  a  glance  which  the 
shrewd  coquette  rightly  read. 

"  And  do  you  really  esteem  it  a  privilege,  Captain 
Blanchard?"  she  added,  bending  on  him  a  look  whioh 
went  to  his  very  soul. 

"  I  know  no  higher  privilege,  and  surely  no  greater 
pleasure,  than  is  permitted  me  in  seeing  Miss  Mon- 
crieffe," and  the  young  soldier  blushed  as  he  spoke,  for 
Margaret's  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  with  an  intensity 
of  expression  which  thrilled  through  him. 


246  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFB. 

"  I  hope  you  have  not  been  taking  lessons  of  your 
brother,"  she  added,  half  averting  her  face. 

"  I  need  no  teacher,  Miss  MoncriefFe,  save  my  owu 
heart,  to  enable  me  to  tell  you  how  solely,  how  truly, 
and  how  devotedly  I  am  yours*" 

"  Really,  Captain  Blanchard,  you  must  not  speak  sc 
earnestly,  or  I  shall  be  more  than  half  inclined  to  be- 
lieve what  you  say." 

"  Mean,  Miss  Moncrieffe !  Oh !  could  you  read  my 
heart — could  you  but  see  how  indelibly  your  image  was 
impressed  there  from  the  moment  you  crossed  my 
path — could  you  but  know  how  I  have  dreamed  of  you 
— aye,  even  dared  to  hope  of  you — you  would  at  least 
do  me  the  justice  to  believe  me  sincere  in  what  I  say." 

"  I  do  believe  you,  Captain  Blanchard,"  said  Marga- 
ret, with  well  affected  hesitancy,  and  stooping  her  head 
until  the  color  came  (a  trick  she  had  learned  from 
reading  of  a  French  abb6,  who,  whenever  he  wished 
to  blush,  bent  down  his  head  and  held  his  breath  for  a 
moment),  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his ;  her  face  was  suf- 
fused with  a  deep  blush,  her  eyes  wore  a  softened 
expression,  and  there  was  an  outward  indication  that 
she  had  appreciated  the  fervor  of  the  young  soldier'8 
feelings,  and  reciprocated  them.  "  I  do  not  know 
what  you  mean,"  she  said,  confusedly,  turning  toward 
the  door,  as  if  fearful  of  interruption. 

"  Oh,  then  let  me  say,"  exclaimed  the  impassioned 
young  man,  "  that  since  the  moment  1  saw  you  your 


MARGARET   RECEIVES   A   PROPOSAL.  247 

image  has  haunted  me.  I  see  nothing,  hear  nothing, 
know  nothing,  care  for  nothing,  but  you." 

"  You  must  not  speak  so,  Captain  Blanchard.  I  am 
young — very  young,  and  very  inexperienced.  My 
position  here  is  one  of  peculiar  difficulty ;  do  not  let  me 
think  you  would  take  advantage  of  it." 

"  For  the  world,  no.  On  my  honor  as  a  man  and 
gentleman,  I  am  true,  honest,  and  sincere.  Speak  one 
word  to  me — say  that  you  have  known  my  devotion 
for  you — say  that  you  know  " 

"  I  can  say  nothing,  Captain  Blanchard,"  she  said, 
interrupting  him,  and  continuing,  with  an  appearance 
of  deep  emotion,  <l  I  have  no  right  to  say  anything. 
My  father  is  not  here  to  counsel  me,  and  when  we 
may  meet,  heaven  only  knows.  Do  not  ask  me  now," 
and  again  she  averted  her  head,  as  if  to  conceal  her 
blushes. 

"  Give  me  one  word  of  hope — one  single  word,  and 
I  am  your  slave,"  he  exclaimed,  passionately ;  "  only 
one  word,  Miss  Moncrieffe." 

"  Captain  Blanchard,  I  am  too  young  to  listen  to 
such  words  from  any  man,  and  you  ought  to  respect 
my  position  more  than  to  urge  them  upon  me.  What 
can  I  say  to  you  ?  What  ought  I  say  to  you  ?  Go 
on  in  the  course  you  have  marked  out  for  yourself,  and 
--and,"  she  continued,  hesitatingly,  "hope  for  your 
reward." 

Captain  Blanchard  was  so  blinded  by  his  desperate 


248  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

passion  for  Margaret,  he  could  put  only  one  interpre- 
tation on  her  words,  and  that  was  favorable  to  his 
aspirations ;  and  as  he  listened  to  them,  his  eyes 
kindled,  his  cheeks  flushed,  and  rising,  he  said,  with 
an  energy  which  almost  startled  the  self-possession  of 
Margaret : 

"  Thanks,  thanks — ten  thousand  thanks.  I  will  go 
on — I  will  prove  myself  worthy  even  of  you,  and  make 
you  proud  of  the  love  I  bear  you." 

"Please  don't  say  any  more,  Captain  Blanchard," 
said  Margaret,  deprecatingly.  "  It  is  wrong  in  you  to 
speak  so,  and  more  than  wrong  in  me  to  listen." 

"  Your  words  are  law,  Miss  Moncrieffe,"  he  said, 
with  an  air  almost  of  reverence,  and  bowing  as  he 
spoke,  for  he  felt  now  secure,  at  least  in  the  right  to 
hope,  and  he  was  but  too  happy  to  prove  his  devotion 
by  his  obedience. 

Fortunately  for  Margaret,  whose  dexterity  had  been 
taxed  to  the  utmost  by  this  interview,  the  door  of  the 
parlor  was  at  this  moment  opened,  and  Major  Gibbs, 
the  commander  of  the  Life  Guard,  entered,  having  been 
summoned  thither  by  a  special  summons  from  General 
Putnam,  and  after  dispatching  hip  business,  stepped  in 
the  parlor  to  pay  a  call  on  the  ladies  of  the  family.  He 
either  did  not,  or  affected  not  to  notice  the  agitated 
manner  and  flushed  cheeks  of  the  young  captain,  but, 
with  the  blunt  gallantry  for  which  he  was  so  conspicu- 
ous, proceeded  to  pay  Margaret  some  home  compli 


MARGARET  RECEIVES    A   PROPOSAL.  249 

ments  upon  the  conquests  she  had  made  during  her 
brief  stay  in  the  city. 

She  repelled  them  with  well  assumed  sincerity  of 
language  and  manner,  and  occasionally,  as  she  spoke, 
she  stole  a  glance  at  Captain  Blanchard,  which,  in  his 
infatuation,  he  chose  to  read  as  saying,  "  I  am  satisfied 
with  one." 

The  latter  soon  afterward  took  his  leave,  in  a  perfect 
state  of  ecstasy,  having  received  a  gentle  pressure  of 
the  hand  from  his  new  idol  as  they  parted,  and  wended 
his  way  to  his  quarters,  scarce  knowing  whether  he 
was  on  his  head  or  his  heels,  but  quite  confident  that 
Margaret  reciprocated  his  feelings,  for  had  she  not 
said,  "  hope  for  your  reward,"  and  what  reward  could 
he  hope  for — what  could  he  care  for,  but  her  love  ? 

Even  the  coveted  commission  of  colonel  was  forgot- 
ten, dimmed  by  the  brightness  of  Margaret's  eyes,  and 
obscured  by  the  fascination  of  her  smile. 

When  Edmund  Blanchard  reached  his  quarters,  he 
was  somewhat  surprised  to  find  his  brother  there, 
awaiting  him,  and  the  brother  was  scarcely  less 
surprised  at  the  air  of  exultation,  and  the  smile  of 
triumph  which  lighted  the  face  of  the  young  Provin- 
cialist. 

"  Well,  Arthur,"  said  the  younger,  throwing  his  cap 

on  the  bed,  and  turning  to  his  brother,  with  a  bright, 

buoyant  smile,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you ;  but,"  and  he 

paused  a  moment,  and  gazed  at  his  brother,  before 

11* 


250  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

he  spoke,  "  what  makes  you  look  so  confounded 
glum  ?" 

"  Sit  down,  Edmund,  and  tell  me  what  makes  you 
look  so  confounded  happy  ?  to  quote  your  own  expres- 
sion." 

"  Oh,  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world,"  replied  Ed- 
mund, throwing  himself  into  a  chair ;  and,  stretching 
his  legs  out  to  their  fullebt  length,  he  thrust  his  thumbs 
into  the  arm-holes  of  his  vest,  and  looked  his  brother 
steadily  in  the  eye. 

"  Well,  out  with  it ;  I'd  like  to  know  your  secret." 

"  I  can't  tell  you  my  secret,  brother  Arthur ;  but  I 
will  tell  you,  that  there  never  was  a  man  so  mistaken 
in  his  life  as  you  have  been." 

"And  you  have  seen  her?"  asked  Arthur,  with  a 
little  of  sternness  in  his  manner,  for  he  well  knew  what 
his  brother  meant,  and  with  full  information  of  his 
promises  to  Lizzie,  could  not  refrain  from  some  exhibi- 
tion of  his  displeasure. 

Edmund  bristled  up  a  little  at  his  question,  more, 
however,  at  the  manner  in  which  it  was  put ;  but  recall- 
ing his  brother's  words  concerning  Margaret,  and 
knowing  that  he  alluded  again  to  her,  he  replied :  "  I 
have ;  and  what  then  ?" 

"  And  what  then  ?"  continued  the  Royalist,  coolly. 

"That  is  for  me  to  know,  Arthur,"  replied  his 
brother,  with  an  air  of  exultation. 

**  And  pray,  young  gentleman,  what  is  to  become  of 


MARGARET  RECEIVES   A   PROPOSAL.  25  J 

Lizzie  Brainard  ?"  and  the  Royalist  looked  at  his  bro 
ther  with  an  expression  as  if  he  would  read  his  very 
soul.  "  Yes,  sir,  I  repeat,  what  is  to  become  of  Lizzie 
Brainard  ?  I  have  something  to  do  with  the  honor  of 
our  name,  Edmund,  and  I  ask  you  again,  what  is  to  be- 
come of  Lizzie  Brainard  ?" 

"Why?"  replied  Edmund,  with  a  forced  laugh, 
"  you  can  have  her  if  you  choose." 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  said  the  Royalist,  with  a 
tremendous  effort  to  restrain  his  anger  at  this  unmanly 
remark.  "  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  I  really  don't  think  you  have  the  right,  even  as  my 
elder  brother,  to  call  me  to  account  for  my  little 
escapades.  I  do  know  Lizzie  Brainard,  and  what  of 
that  ?" 

"  Have  you  never  promised  her  marriage  ?" 

"  And  what  if  I  have  ?  Have  you  never  done  the 
same,  most  gallant  brother,  and  forgotten  it  whenever 
it  was  convenient  to  do  so  ?" 

Captain  Blanchard  bit  his  lips  until  the  blood  almost 
started  from  them  ;  but  still  he  restrained  himself,  and 
continued,  with  a  coolness  perfectly  marvellous  under 
the  circumstances  :  "  I  never  did,  thank  God ;  such  a 
sin  lies  not  on  my  conscience." 

"  Really,  brother  Arthur,  I  should  like  to  know  why 
you  take  such  an  interest  in  Lizzie  ?" 

"  Because  I  believe  her  to  b<*  a  truthful,  pure-minded, 
noble-hearted  girl,  and  " 


252  MARGARET   MONCBIEFFE. 

A  load,  contemptuous  laugh  from  Edmund  inter- 
rupted thia  sentence,  and  for  a  moment  the  Royalist 
looked  ai  his  brother  with  an  expression  of  the  most 
unutterable  contempt. 

It  was  returned  by  Edmund,  who,  with  a  cynical 
smile,  replied  to  this  look  by  saying :  "  Why,  Arthur, 
you  don't  think  I  was  such  a  cursed  fool  as  to  marry  a 
girl  like  that  ?" 

"  Did  you  never  promise  to  marry  her,  Edmund  ? 
was  the  question  I  asked,  Edmund ;  and  I  hope  for  a 
plain,  straightforward  answer,  such  as  becomes  a 
man." 

"  And  what  if  I  did.  Perhaps  I  am  not  the  only 
one  who  has  promised  the  same  thing." 

"  And  has  she  not  trusted  to  your  promise  ?" 

"Well,"  and  the  young  soldier  stroked  bis  beard 
complacently,  "  perhaps  she  has." 

"  And  have  you  not  wronged  her,  Ednmnd  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  wronged,  Arthur. 
I  certainly  have  received  abundant  proof  of  her  love." 

"  And  given  because  she  believed  you  loved  her,  and 
trusted  to  your  love  and  honor." 

"  Possible,"  was  the  cool  reply. 

"  And  you  have  been  to  see  Miss  Moncrieffe,  and 
have  dared  to  offer  your  love  to  her  ?" 

"  There  is  a  vast  difference  in  their  positions." 

"  Only  one  difference,  sir ;  Lizzie  Brainard  is  beauti- 
ful and  poor — Margaret  Moncrieffe  is  wealthy  as  well 


MARGARET  RECEIVES   A   PROPOSAL.  253 

as  beautiful.  I  ask  you,  Edmund,  in  honest  sincerity — 
I  ask  you  as  your  elder  brother — as  the  rightful  repre- 
sentative of  our  name  and  the  guardian  of  its  honor,  as 
yet  unstained,  have  you  brought  this  foul  wrong  on  a 
loving,  trusting  girl  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  call  a  wrong ;  I  repeat  I 
have  received  from  Lizzie  every  proof  of  her  love  I 
could  ask.  What  more  do  you  require  ?" 

"  Nothing  more  from  you,  sir.  Henceforth  we  are 
no  longer  brothers.  I  will  not  raise  my  hand  against 
you,  nor  will  I  provoke  you  to  raise  your  own  against 
me  ;  for  I  consider  you  so  far  beneath  the  contempt  of 
an  honorable  man  you  could  not  insult  me.  Edmund 
Blanchard,  I  blush  for  you  and  I  despise  you,  for  you 
are  no  man." 

"  Sir — Arthur — brother,  what  does  this  mean  ?  How 
dare  you  use  this  language  to  me  ?" 

"  How  dare  you  ask  that  question,  sir  ?  How  dare 
you,  who  have  confessed  to  a  crime  which  ought  to 
ehut  you  out  from  the  society  of  every  honorable  man, 
ask  such  a  question  of  me  ?  I  tell  you,  Edmund  Blan- 
chard,  you  will  rue  the  day  you  have  proved  so  false  to 
everything  that  belongs  to  a  gentleman  and  honorable 
man.  Under  the  plea  of  an  honorable  promise,  you 
have  deceived  and  betrayed  a  fond,  loving,  trusting, 
virtuous  girl.  Oh,  shame !  shame !  But,  mark  me, 
sir,"  and,  hat  in  hand,  he  strode  close  up  to  his  brother, 
who,  conscious  of  guilt,  was  perfectly  astounded  at 


2.">4  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

such  A  rebuke  from  a  quarter  so  unexpected — "  that 
girl  is  not  without  friends.  I  believe  and  shall  believe, 
until  I  have  better  evidence  than  your  assertion,  that 
until  she  knew  you,  she  was  as  true  and  pure  in  heart 
as  an  angel ;  and,  sir,  if  you  ever  again  show  your  face 
within  the  house  that  holds  her,  the  consequences  rest 
on  your  own  head,  unless  you  go  there  to  fulfill  your 
promise  to  her." 

"  Now  go  to  Miss  Moncrieffe ;  I  shall  go  there  too  ; 
but  I  shall  not  betray  you ;  for,  coquette  as  she  may 
be — reckless,  heedless,  impulsive  as  she  is — she  would 
spurn  you  as  I  do  now,  if  she  knew  half  your  vileness. 
Your  sure  punishment  will  find  you,  so  truly  as  th^re 
is  an  avenging  God.  Farewell,  sir.  Henceforth  we 
are  strangers !"  and  before  Edmund  Blanchard  could 
recover  from  the  effects  of  this  terrible  denunciation, 
or  utter  one  word  in  reply,  he  was  alone. 

No,  not  alone ;  for  even  then,  with  his  brother's 
words — almost  curses — hissing  in  his  ear,  and  burning 
into  his  very  heart,  with  the  recollection  of  the  irrepa- 
rable wrong  he  had  inflicted  upon  the  loving,  trusting 
Lizzie,  Margaret  Moncrieffe  was  with  him  ;  and,  in  the 
remembrance  of  her  cheering  smiles,  which  bade  him 
"  hope  for  his  reward,"  he  was  content  to  forget  the 
world  beside ;  and,  throwing  himself  into  a  chair,  v/hen 
the  door  closed  upon  the  retreating  form  of  his  bro'.her, 
gave  away  to  a  reverie  of  which  Margaret  formed  tho 
only  component  part.  Poor  Lizzie  Brainard ! 


CHAFIER  XXIV. 

BETH     ADAMS    A     PRISONER. 

SETH  ADAMS  threw  himself  on  the  deck  of  the  ship, 
and  strove  to  penetrate  the  darkness  and  gloom  which 
urn-rounded  him ;  but  for  a  long  time  it  was  vain,  as 
the  berth  deck  in  which  the  "  brig  "  was  located,  was 
lighted  by  only  one  lantern,  hung  well  forward,  near 
the  berth  occupied  by  the  master-at-arms,  and  where 
the  sentry  was  stationed  who  watched  over  the  prisoners. 
At  length  his  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  dim  light, 
and  he  was  enabled  to  perceive  that  the  hammocks 
were  slung  fore  and  aft,  and  that  he  was  surrounded  by 
some  half  dozen  men,  prisoners  like  himself,  but  who 
were  buried  in  sleep.  In  vain  he  attempted  to  scan 
their  countenances,  but  he  could  not  distinguish  the 
features  of  either ;  so,  composing  himself  with  per- 
fect sangfroid,  he  gave  way  to  the  thoughts  which  his 
position  naturally  called  up. 

He  was,  then,  a  prisoner  on  board  a  king's  ship,  and 
under  circumstances  which  rendered  his  detention  of 
the  utmost  consequence  ;-for  he  was  the  possessor  of  a 
secret  of  the  deepest  importance,  as  well  to  his  country 
as  to  its  enemies.  That  some  infernal  plot  and  treachery 


256  MARGARET  MONCBIEFFE. 

was  in  contemplation  he  knew ;  for,  as  has  been 
when  he  was  secured  at  Corbie's  house,  Colonel  Fan- 
ning  and  Corbie  had  conversed  with  perfect  freedom 
as  to  the  plans  of  the  Royalists.  For  an  instant  he  re- 
gretted that  he  had  not  dissembled  with  Governor 
Tryon,  and,  by  manifesting  a  readiness  to  serve  the 
enemies  of  his  country,  secured  the  opportunity  of 
Beiving  her  interests;  but  he  felt  his  cheek  mantle 
with  the  blush  of  shame  at  the  very  idea,  and  the 
thought  was  as  quickly  dispelled  as  it  was  born  hi  his 
mind — not  his  heart. 

His  only  possible  chance  now  was  to  pretend  that  he 
was  at  least  content  with  his  position,  and  gather  all 
the  information  he  could  with  reference  to  the  move- 
ment in  which  the  Royalists  were  engaged,  and,  having 
learned  all  he  could,  to  escape  if  possible ;  if  not,  to 
lose  his  life  in  the  attempt ;  for,  as  to  serving  against 
his  country,  that  he  never  would  do.  He  would  lie,  or 
deceive,  or  do  anything  to  gain  his  ends,  and  having 
comforted  himself  with  the  reflection  that  "  what  can't 
be  cured  must  be  endured,"  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  \vas 
soon  lost  in  a  slumber,  whose  peacefulness  could  only 
be  enjoyed  by  one  whose  conscience  was  at  rest. 

At  daylight  he  was  aroused  by  the  customary  morn- 
ing gun,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  berth  deck  \\aa 
cleared  of  all  its  occupants,  save  those  like  himself,  iu 
the  "  brig." 

"  Come  out  of  that,  you  rebel  dog !"  was  his  first 


SETII   ADAMS   A   PRISONER.  25Y 

salutation,  accompanied  by  a  smart  blow  from  a  ratan 
on  the  place  where,  in  some  natures,  the  seat  of  honor 
is  located.  The  voice,  which  was  a  very  gruff  one, 
belonged  to  the  master-at-arms,  and  it  was  he  who  held 
the  ratan  which  had  inflicted  the  first  blow  Seth  Adams 
had  received  since  he  was  a  boy. 

Manacled  as  he  was,  he  could  not  resent  the  insult, 
for  such  he  deemed  it,  quite  forgetting  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  in  the  power  of  an  enemy ;  but  as  he  sprung 
up  to  his  full  height  at  one  bound,  he  fastened  a  glance 
upon  the  petty  tyrant,  which  spoke  as  plainly  as  words 
could  speak,  "  if  I  ever  do  catch  you,  that  will  be  the 
last  blow  you  will  ever  strike." 

"  Come  out  of  that,  on  deck  with  you,  and  air  your- 
self,"  and  the  ratan  was  again  raised,  but  Adams  said : 

"  Don't  strike  me  again ;  tell  me  what  you  want  me 
to  do." 

"  On  deck,  you  scoundrel,"  and  the  ratan  fell,  this 
time  on  the  young  man's  shoulders. 

Tears  started  to  his  eyes,  but  they  were  tears  of  shame 
and  mortification ;  he  obeyed,  however,  in  silence,  and 
ascending  the  ladder  which  led  to  the  upper  deck,  he 
found  himself  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  sailors  and 
soldiers,  the  former  making  preparations  to  wash  down 
and  holy-stone  the  deck,  the  latter  striving  to  get  out 
of  the  way  as  much  as  possible,  for  they  well  knew  tha 
antipathy  which  sailors  bear  to  soldiers. 

He  had  no  t*me  to  look  aboilt,  for  he  was  conducted 


258  MAKGAEET   MONCBLEFFE. 

at  once  to  the  forecastle  with  his  fellow-prisoners,  and 
bidden  to  stand  still  there  until  he  was  ordered  below. 
He  gladly  embraced  the  opportunity  thus  afforded,  and 
the  strangeness  of  the  sight  for  a  time  made  him  forget 
his  position ;  any  one  who  has  been  on  board  a  man- 
of-war  at  that  hour,  for  the  first  time,  could  well  appre- 
ciate his  sensations.  All  was  bustle  and  activity,  but 
there  was  no  noise  or  confusion,  for  every  man  had  hig 
station  and  knew  his  duty,  and  perfect  silence  prevailed, 
broken  only  by  the  whistle  of  the  boatswain's  mates,  or 
the  gruff  orders  of  the  officers  of  the  deck. 

"While  engaged  in  watching  this  novel  scene,  he  was 
accosted  by  a  voice  which  seemed  familiar,  and  turning 
he  saw  before  him,  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a  seaman,  a 
young  man,  Paul  Babcock,  a  neighbor  and  a  friend  of 
his  own  at  Elizabeth,  who  had  early  left  home  to 
follow  the  sea,  and  had  not  been  heard  from  for  three 
or  four  years. 

"What  on  earth  are  you  doing  here  with  them  'ere 
bracelets  on  ?"  he  asked,  pointing  to  the  manacles  on 
Seth's  wrists. 

"  And  what  are  you  doing  here  ?"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  belong  to  the  forecastle,  Seth  ;  I  was  pressed  in 
Liverpool,  nigh  on  three  years  ago,  and  I've  been 
aboard  this  bloody  craft  ever  since.  But  I  say,  what 
do  them  mean  ?r/  and  he  looked  at  the  irons. 

"  I  am  a  prisoner,  you  see,  Paul,"  said  Seth,  and  he 
held  up  his  hands  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  which 


SETH   ADAMS   A   PElSOJfEK.  253 

yet  smarted  under  the  blow  of  the  brutal  master-at- 
arms. 

"And  so  am  I,  only  worse,  for  they  make  me  serve 
when  I  don't  want  to,  and  fight  agin  my  own  flesh 
and  blood.  Hush  !  I'll  get  a  chance  to  see  you  before 
long.  I'll  look  out  for  you  as  well  as  I  can — only  mind 
me,  Seth,  you  hear  ?" 

Seth  nodded  assent,  feeling  but  too  grateful  to  have 
found  an  acquaintance  among  the  crowd  of  foreign  faces 
which  surrounded  him. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  nar- 
rate the  incidents  connected  with  the  brief  captivity  of 
Adams,  for  it  was  briefer  than  his  captors  had  intended 
by  many  mouths.  Seth  Adams  in  no  wise  belied  the  cha- 
racter Major  Burr  had  given  him,  as  being  shrewd,  cool, 
determined,  and  cunning  as  a  fox.  He  listened  to  every- 
thing, treasured  up  everything,  and  submitted  without 
complaint  to  every  indignity  which  the  brutality  of  the 
master-at-arms,  who  had  sole  charge  of  him,  could  inflict. 
He  had  gathered  from  hints  and  expressions  of  the  Roy « 
alist  sailors  and  soldiers,  aided  often  by  direct  communi- 
cations  from  Paul,  information  of  the  highest  import- 
ance to  the  commander-in-chief — information  which,  if 
the  country  was  to  be  saved,  must  be  communicated 
to  him  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  at  all  hazards, 
and  he  determined  to  risk  his  life  in  the  attempt  to  im- 
part it  in  person,  for  by  no  other  possible  means  could 
it  be  conveyed  to  he'id-quarters. 


260  MARGARET  MO^CRIEFFB. 

By  careful  watching  he  had  learned  much  of  life  and 
habits  on  ship-board,  and  he  determined  to  avail  him« 
self  of  the  information  thus  acquired,  and  if  possible 
to  effect  his  escape.  To  facilitate  this,  he  had  practised 
on  his  manacles  at  every  conceivable  opportunity,  and 
by  patient  and  constant  effort  had  succeeded  in  so 
loosening  the  key  which  united  them,  he  could  with 
draw  and  replace  it  with  his  teeth.  To  illustrate  the 
possibility  of  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  ship's 
"irons"  are  entirely  different  from  those  used  on  shore, 
keyed  only  at  one  end,  and  very  roughly  manufactured. 
There  is  a  place  on  board  the  ship  which  every  seafaring 
man  knows  as  the  "  head,"  the  purposes  of  which  it  is 
not  necessary  to  explain ;  but  Seth  had  determined  to 
make  use  of  his  knowledge  of  this  place  to  effect  his 
escape,  and  awaited  only  what  he  deemed  a  fitting  op- 
portunity. He  learned  with  dismay  that  the  whole 
British  fleet,  with  thousands  of  hired  troops  on  board, 
was  daily  expected,  and  knowing  that  the  consummation 
of  the  infamous  plot,  whose  particulars  he  had  gleaned 
from  every  conceivable  source,  only  awaited  their  arri- 
val, he  determined  to  make  the  long  desired  oppor- 
tunity. 

The  night  chosen  for  his  perilous  undertaking  was 
pitchy  dark,  and  the  rain  was  pouring  down  in  torrents, 
so  that  every  man,  whether  sailor  or  soldier,  was  stowed 
away  in  every  possible  spot  where  shelter  might  be 
afforded  Every  soul  on  the  berth-deck  was  asleep,  ox- 


SETH    ADAMS   A    PRISONEB.  201 

cept  Soth,  and  the  sentry,  who  was  seated  on  a  mess- 
chest  near  the  lamp  burning  on  the  forward  part  of  the 
ship,  straining  his  eyes  to  decipher  the  words  of  some 
book  he  held  in  his  hand. 

Seth  arose,  and  stooping  so  as  to  avoid  the  ham- 
mocks, whose  inmates  were  sound  asleep,  he  ap- 
proached the  sentinel,  and  said,  in  a  disguised  voice  : 

"Please,  Mr.  Soldier,  I  want  to  go  to  'the  head  ?'  " 

The  sentry  looked  up  from  his  book,  and  not  noticing 
who  it  was,  thought  it  was  one  of  the  prisoners  of  the 
ship's  crew,  who  were  not  in  irons,  as  the  light  of  his 
lamp  wras  too  dim  to  enable  him  to  distinguish  any- 
thing, for  it  was  not  a  necessary  consequence  of  being 
in  the  "  brig  "  that  a  prisoner  should  be  in  irons,  but 
Seth  had  earned  his  distinction  by  his  insolence  to 
Governor  Tryon,  who,  sooth  to  say,  had  entirely  for- 
gotten the  young  man,  and  did  not  remember  he  wan 
on  board. 

"  Go  and  be  d — d,"  was  the  gruff  reply  of  the  sen 
try,  who,  hearing  the  ram  pattering  on  the  deck  above 
him,  and  whose  duty  it  was  to  accompany  his  prisoner 
to  the  head,  and  return  with  him  to  the  lower  deck, 
had  no  idea  of  going  on  deck  to  be  soaked  through 
for  the  accommodation  of  any  prisoner,  for  he  would 
have  to  sit  the  remainder  of  the  watch  with  wet  clothes 
on,  and  to  save  himself  from  this,  he  gave  Seth  per- 
mission to  go  unattended. 

Seth  made  no  reply,  lest  his  identity  should  be  dis 


262  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

covered,  but  turning  away,  he  silently  moved  toward 
the  hatchway  which  led  to  the  deck,  and  as  he  passed 
along,  gently  withdrew  the  key  which  secured  his 
manacles.  Sliding  them  off,  he  put  them  in  the  bosom 
of  his  shirt,  and  ascended  the  companion  way,  and  for 
the  first  time  since  he  had  been  on  board,  he  trod  the 
deck  a  free  man,  for  even  in  this  step  he  felt  a  conscious- 
ness of  freedom.  The  darkness  was  so  impenetrable, 
he  could  not  see  one  step  before  him,  nor  could  he  per- 
ceive a  single  human  being.  He  knew  the  way,  how- 
ever, to  the  "  head,"  and  moving  cautiously  along,  he 
reached  unnoticed  the  steps  which  led  to  the  top- 
gallant forecastle,  where  the  "  head  "  is  located. 

There  was  a  sentry  posted  there,  but  as  it  was  no 
unusual  matter  for  the  men  to  go  to  the  "  head  "  at  ah1 
times  of  day  or  night,  he  paid  no  attention  to  Seth,  but 
stood  with  his  back  to  the  wind,  and  his  face  buried 
up  to  his  eyes  in  his  coat-collar.  Another  moment,  and 
Seth  was  in  the  "  head,"  where,  unnoticed,  he  divested 
himself  of  his  coat,  and  everything  but  his  pantaloons, 
and  wrapping  them  up,  with  the  irons  inclosed,  he 
dropped  them  overboard.  The  pantaloons  he  tied 
about  his  neck  by  the  legs,  in  such  a  shape  they  would 
afford  as  little  resistance  to  the  water  as  possible. 
Silently  but  fervently  he  commended  himself  and  his 
purpose  to  God,  and  sliding  down,  he  managed  to 
reach  the  martingale  guys,  and  thence  glided  to  the 
martingale.  With  one  more  brief  prayer,  he  dropped 


BETH   ADAMS   A   PEISOXEB.  268 

Into  the  water,  a  distance  of  only  about  three  feet,  and 
fortunately  the  noise  of  the  wind  and  the  violence  of 
the  rain  drowned  the  sound  made  by  his  body  as  it  cut 
the  water. 

Rising  from  the  plunge,  he  looked  around,  and  see- 
ing the  lights  on  Staten  Island,  suffered  himself  to  float 
noiselessly  up  with  the  tide,  which  was  running  then 
strong  flood,  his  intention  being  to  wait  until  he  got 
out  of  possible  hearing,  and  then  make  for  the  Jersey 
shore,  which,  from  the  spot  where  the  ship  lay, 
near  the  entrance  to  the  "  kills,"  was  distant  about 
three  miles.  When  he  had  reached  a  sufficient  dis- 
tance from  the  ship,  he  struck  out,  noiselessly  and 
slowly,  so  as  not  to  fatigue  himself,  for  he  had  a  long 
swim  even  for  so  strong  and  bold  a  swimmer  as  he  was. 
But  he  was  animated,  first  by  the  sense  of  freedom,  and 
next  by  the  hope  of  thwarting  the  enemies  of  his  ooun 
try,  by  imparting  to  the  commander-in-chief  the  impor- 
tant information  he  had  acquired. 

He  had  swam  perhaps  two  or  three  hundred  yards, 
when  some  hard  substance  struck  his  chest  with  such 
force  as  to  cause  him  great  pain,  and  on  reaching  his 
hand  forward  to  discover  what  it  might  be,  he  found 
it  was  a  piece  of  board  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  long, 
and  a  foot  in  width,  which  had  probably  been  dropped 
by  some  vessel.  Blessing  providence  for  this  most 
welcome  and  timely  aid,  he  at  once  seized  hold  of  it, 
and  for  a  while  suffered  himself  to  float  along  with  tho 


264  MAKGAKET  MONCBIEFFB. 

tide,  so  as  to  gain  strength,  and  by  watching  the  lights 
on  the  shore,  he  perceived  that  he  was  drifting  up  the 
*'  Kills  "  at  a  very  rapid  rate,  for  the  tide  runs  there 
with  much  greater  force  than  in  the  open  bay. 

Seth  was  glad  of  this,  and  determining  not  to  weary 
himself  unnecessarily,  lest  when  exertion  should  be 
needed  he  would  be  incapable  of  making  any,  he  held 
quietly  to  his  plank,  and  floated  on,  occasionally  giv- 
ing a  few  strokes  to  aid  his  progress.  Of  course  he 
suffered  much  from  the  coldness  of  the  water,  but  his 
sufferings  were  diminished  much  by  the  recollection 
that  he  was  free,  and  he  bore  them  in  silent  patience. 
It  was  nearly  midnight  when  Seth  escaped  from  the 
ship,  and  how  long  he  had  floated  he  knew  not ;  but 
j&e  hailed  with  delight  a  streak  of  grey  dawn  which 
broke  out  in  the  east,  for  he  knew  that  ere  long  he 
would  be  able  to  discover  where  he  was.  The  rain 
had  gradually  moderated,  and,  about  the  time  day 
was  breaking,  had  ceased  entirely,  the  clouds,  at 
the  same  time,  beginning  to  break  away.  He  could 
only  hope  that  he  had  gone  through  the  "  Kills ;" 
but  whether  he  had  kept  in  them,  or  floated  into 
Newark  bay,  he  could  not  tell,  and  his  joy  may  be 
imagined  when  daylight  permitted  him  to  discover 
his  position,  he  found  himself  about  a  mile  above  the 
present  site  of  Elizabethport.  He  knew  every  inch  of 
the  shore,  for  he  had  fished  and  clammed  it  for  years, 
and  when  he  made  this  discovery,  a  new  life  seemed  to 


SETH   ADAMS   A   PRISONER.  265 

be  given  to  him.  Heading  his  plank  toward  the  shores 
he  now  struck  out  manfully,  and,  in  the  course  of  half 
an  hour,  was  safe  on  land,  wearied,  cold  and  exhausted, 
it  was  true,  but  he  was/ree. 

Entering  the  woods  which  skirted  the  shore,  he 
wrung  out  his  pantaloons,  and  drawing  them  on,  threw 
himself  on  the  leaves,  panting  and  worn  out,  and  his 
first  thought  was  an  ejaculation  of  thankfulness  to  God 
for  his  escape.  He  lay  there  a  very  few  minutes,  for  he 
knew  how  important  it  was  that  his  information  should 
be  instantly  conveyed  to  the  city,  and  rising,  stretched 
his  benumbed  and  aching  limbs,  and  started  forward. 

Seth  had  providentially  landed  within  two  miles,  or 
a  little  more,  from  the  bouse  of  Mrs.  Adams,  his  aunt, 
by  whom  he  had  been  brought  up  from  boyhood,  and 
he  pushed  on  with  cheerfulness,  though  every  step 
gave  him  pain,  so  terribly  had  he  been  affected  by  his 
long  immersion  in  the  water.  But  he  had  a  sacred 
duty  to  perform,  and  scorning  pain,  he  kept  on  his 
weary  road,  and  after  two  hours  of  painful  struggling 
through  the  woods,  his  naked  flesh  and  feet  torn  by 
the  bushes  and  briers  through  which  he  had  to  force 
his  path,  he  came  in  sight  of  the  house,  which  was  just 
across  the  road  from  the  woods  through  which  he  had 
worked  his  toilsome,  weary  way. 

The  sight  of  his  well-remembered  home  revived  him  ; 
and  panting,  bleeding,  yet  never  faltering  in  the  cou- 
rage which  had  thus  far  animated  him,  he  crossed  the 
12 


268  MARGARET  MONCKIEFFE. 

woods,  passed  through  the  fence,  and  reaching  the  door 
of  the  kitchen,  sank  exhausted  on  the  step,  absolutely 
unable  to  make  his  presence  known  by  the  slightest 
noise,  so  completely  was  he  worn  down  by  his  tremend- 
ous efforts. 

How  long  he  lay  there  he  knew  not,  but  at  length 
the  door  was  opened,  and  a  loud  scream  from  Mrs.  Ad- 
ams,  who  had  discovered  the  bleeding  and  half-naked 
form  lying  there,  and  hastily  closing  the  door,  ran  back 
into  the  house,  assured  him  he  had  been  seen.  Her 
screams  brought  Patsy  from  her  room,  her  simple  toilet 
half  finished,  but  her  mother  could  only  point  to  the 
door;  she  was  too  much  frightened  to  utter  a  word. 

Patsy  boldly  approached  the  door,  and  as  she  did  so, 
Seth,  who  had  managed  to  raise  himself  on  one  elbow, 
met  her  searching  glance  of  pity.  For  an  instant  she 
gazed  inquiringly  at  him ;  her  breath  came  thicker  and 
faster,  and  at  length,  with  a  scream  of  mingled  joy  and 
pity,  she  sprang  out  and  raising  his  head,  exclaimed : 
*'  Seth,  in  God's  name  what  does  this  mean  ?"  for  she 
had  recognized,  half-naked,  scarred  and  bleeding  as  he 
was,  her  cousin,  the  playmate  of  her  earliest  years,  him 
•whom  she  had  ever  looked  on  as  a  brother 

"  Mother,  mother !"  she  fairly  screamed,  "  come  here, 
it's  Seth — quick,  mother !"  and  stooping  down,  she 
placed  her  arms  under  his  own,  and  with  a  tremendous 
effort  raised  him  to  his  feet.  Mrs.  Adams,  as  she  heard 
her  daughter's  exclamation,  came  out  as  quickly  as  she 


SETH   ADAMS   A   PEISOJfER.  267 

had  hurried  away,  and  raising  her  hands  in  pity  and 
horror  at  the  sight,  sprang  forward  to  assist  Patsy  hi 
her  labor  of  love,  exclaiming,  as  they  bore  him  into  the 
house,  "  Massy  me,  what  on  airth  is  all  this  ?" 

Seth  was  placed  in  the  large  rocking-chair,  his  head 
sinking  wearily  on  Mrs.  Adams'  shoulder,  while  Patsy 
sprang  into  the  other  room,  and  Returned  as  quick  aa 
thought,  bearing  a  bottle  which  she  placed  to  his  mouth, 
and  of  which  he  eagerly  drank. 

A  few  swallows  revived  him  so  that  he  was  able  to 
sit  up,  and  looking  in  Patsy's  face,  with  eyes  beaming 
with  fraternal  love,  he  said,  "  Thank  God,  I  am  free !» 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  TE^PTBESS    CONQUERS. 

THE  moon  ought  to  have  shone  on  that  night,  bat  rt 
did  not ;  the  almanac  declared  that  it  was  a  full  moon,  but 
the  clouds  belied  the  almanac,  for  the  moon  could  not 
be  seen  through  the  heavy  veil  which  they  had  thrown 
over  her. 

Every  member  of  General  Putnam's  family  was  fast 
asleep,  and  if  ladies  ever  snore,  was  snoring  long  be- 
fore ten  o'clock.  The  general,  wearied  down  with  the 
work  of  the  day,  for  he  was  actively  and  personally  en- 
gaged in  superintending  the  fortification  of  the  island 
against  the  probable  and  almost  certain  advent  of  the 
British,  had  retired  early,  and  his  family  had  followed 
his  example. 

The  quarters  of  General  Putnam,  as  history  has  in- 
formed us,  were  at  that  time  located  at  No.  1  Broad- 
way, and  the  garden  extended  to  the  river,  then 
bounded  by  Greenwich  street.  The  house,  built  by 
Captain  Kennedy,  a  Royalist  officer  of  wealth,  had 
been  selected  by  him  as  the  most  eligible  spot  on  the 
Island,  and  little  dreaming  of  what  a  few  years  of 
future  might  bring  forth  for  him,  he  had  adorned  the 


THE   lEMPTEESS   CONQUERS.  209 

place  in  the  most  tasteful  and  expensive  manner.  The 
grounds  extended  down  as  far  as  the  lower  side  of 
Greenwich  street,  and  at  that  time  were  filled  with 
trees,  flowers,  and  shrubbery  of  all  kinds. 

Fort  George,  then  the  principal  fortification  of  the 
Island,  was  located  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
"  Battery,"  and  in  the  rear  of  the  general's  quarters, 
was  located  "  Oyster  Battery."  Of  course,  in  each  of 
these,  sentinels  were  posted  to  prevent  the  approach  of 
any  one  from  the  river  side,  but  no  thought  was  taken 
of  that  portion  of  the  city  inland.  As  a  consequence, 
the  garden  of  General  Putnam's  quarters  was  never 
intruded  upon,  and  the  only  precaution  taken  to  guard 
the  approach  to  his  quarters,  was  from  the  seaward, 
or  rather  river  side. 

As  has  been  said,  the  moon,  according  to  the  alma 
nac,  ought  to  have  shone  that  night,  but  she  could  not ; 
the  clouds  were  too  thick  and  too  heavy  even  for  her 
penetration,  and  in  consequence,  a  deep  gloom,  amount- 
ing almost  to  darkness,  prevailed. 

It  wras  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  at  night  (hours 
most  unseasonable  for  that  period,  for  every  one  not 
on  duty  was  presumed  to  be  in  bed  and  asleep),  that  a 
form  attired  in  dark  clothes  might  have  been  seen  (if 
the  moon  had  permitted  sight  to  be  available)  pacing 
to  and  fro  in  the  broad  walk  which  ran  parallel  with 
the  river  and  the  house,  and  which  was  so  shaded  by 
the  trees  that  no  one  hi  the  house  or  on  the  river  «ould 


270  MAKGAKET   MONCKIEFFB. 

have  perceived  anything,  even  with  the  aid   of  the 
moon. 

It  was  Margaret,  who  was  taking  the  walk  to  v/hich 
she  had  declared  herself  accustomed,  and  in  which,  by 
implication,  she  had  invited  her  lover  to  join  her.  She 
was  pacing  the  gravelled  walk  impatiently,  half-angrily, 
and  perhaps  was  wondering  whether  she  had  not  bet- 
ter return  to  the  house,  when  a  well-known  voice,  close 
by  her  side,  uttered  the  simple  word,  "  Margaret ;"  it 
was  enough : 

"  'Twas  his  own  voice — she  could  not  err, 
Throughout  the  breathing  world's  extent, 

There  was  but  one  such  voice  for  her, 
So  kind,  so  soft,  so  eloquent." 

In  another  moment  she  was  clasped  in  the  arms  of 
him  to  whom  she  had  given  her  virgin  affections ;  him, 
for  whom  she  would  have  sacrificed  her  very  soul ;  him, 
whom  meaning  to  serve,  she  had  betrayed  and  pur- 
chased with  the  price  of  her  love. 

"Margaret,  my  own  Margaret !"  murmured  the  young 
soldier,  as  she  returned  his  warm  embrace,  and  per- 
mitted the  ardent  kiss  with  which  he  expressed  his  hap- 
piness. 

"  I  was  afraid  I  might  be  intruded  upon,*  said  Mar- 
garet, meaningly. 

"And  I— shall  I  say  I  fear  I  have  intruded  upon 
you  ?" 

"  Say  what  you  choose,  Aaron,  now  you  are  here," 


THE   TEMPTRESS    CONQUERS.  271 

she  said,  placing  her  arm  within  his  own,  and  pressing 
it  warmly.  "  But  come,  we  must  not  waste  these  pre- 
cious moments.  You  know  me  now,  and  you  have 
said  you  did  not  despise  me  for  the  unsought  acknow- 
ledgment of  my  love." 

"  Unsought,  Margaret  ?  Did  not  my  first  glance 
disclose  to  you  the  love  which  sprang  full-born  into  my 
heart  ?  Did  not  my  first  words  testify  how  solely  I 
was  yours  ?  Did  not  the  first  kiss  I  dared  to  impress 
npon  your  lips,  when  my  heart  was  gladdened  by  the 
assurance  of  your  safety,  carry  to  your  heart  the  con- 
viction of  the  boundless  love  I  bore  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  yes,  Aaron.  Fate,  chance,  or  destiny  has 
thrown  us  together  strangely.  God  only  knows  what 
will  be  the  end  or  where  we  may  land  ;  but,  whatever 
may  be  your  fate,  I  will  share  it  with  you." 

"  My  own  Margaret — my  heart's  best  treasure !" 
exclaimed  the  enthusiastic  lover,  "  what  can  I  do  to 
prove  my  devotion  to  you  ?" 

"  Be  faithful,  only,  Aaron  ;  be  faithful,  for  my  love's 
sake.  You  are  engaged  in  a  cause  which  cannot  within 
the  range  of  human  possibility  command  success.  I 
know  it — I  feel  it.  May  I  tell  you  what  I  know  ? 
Remember,  I  have  said  I  will  not  do  or  say  anything 
by  M'hich  you  may  be  compromised  until  the  proper 
time  ;  nor  would  I  ask  you  to  do  or  say  anything  which 
could  conflict  with  the  duties  you  now  owe  those  with 
whom  you  are  associated." 


272  MAEGAEET  MONCEIEFFE. 

"  Do  you  mean,  Margaret,  that  I  am  to  make  my 
choice  ?" 

"  I  thought  you  had  made  it,"  responded  Margaret, 
with  an  air  of  coldness,  half  withdrawing  her  arm  from 
that  of  her  companion  ;  but  this  was  prevented  by  her 
companion,  who,  seizing  her  hand,  drew  it  again  within 
his  own,  and  said  : 

"  And  have  I  not  ?  I  know  no  one — I  know  no  tie 
• — I  know  no  allegiance  save  that  which  binds  me  to 
you.  To  call  you  mine — to  know  that  you  are  mine — is 
the  dearest  wish  of  my  heart,  and  I  ask  you  only  to 
teach  me  hotf  I  may  soonest  compass  that." 

"  I  am  yours,  Aaron,  come  weal,  come  woe ;  I  love 
you  with  all  the  strength  and  ardor  of  first  love.  I 
have  told  you  that  I  was  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice 
rather  than  be  separated  from  you,  and  I  am  still  pre- 
pared to  do  it ;  but,"  and  she  spoke  with  deep  earnest- 
ness, "  I  told  you  at  the  same  time  that  if  I  was  called 
upon  to  make  the  sacrifice  which  would  keep  us  united, 
you  would  be  the  first  to  regret  it.  Do  you  remember 
that  ?" 

"  Well,  Margaret,  perfectly  ;  and  I  did  not  make  my 
choice." 

"  You  did ;  but  you  act  at  times  as  if  you  had  re- 
gretted it." 

"  Margaret !"  exclaimed  the  major. 

"I  repeat,  you  act  as  if  you  regretted  it.  Now, 
Aaron,  I  shall  put  you  to  the  test ;  I  am  ready  to  prove 


THE  1EMPTEESS   CONQUERS.  273 

my  love  for  you  as  I  said ;  I  am  prepared  to  forsake 
father,  family,  friends,  name,  wealth,  standing,  for  your 
sake ;  I  am  equally  prepared  to  confer  on  you  all  I 
promised.  Make  your  choice  now  and  forever,  and 
ever  after  abide  by  it." 

"  Margaret,  and  Margaret  alone — I  care  only  for  you. 
Do  with  me  as  you  choose." 

"  Will  you  accept  the  title  I  gave  you  this  morning  ?" 

"  Not  without  you,  Margaret ;  I  would  not  accept  a 
throne  without  you." 

"  In  a  few  days,  I  cannot  say  how  many,  you  shall 
have  the  proof  of  my  sincerity  and  of*  my  power. 
Aaron,"  and  she  spoke  almost  solemnly,  "  we  are  both 
young,  but  both  have  seen  much  of  the  world.  I  do 
not  believe  that  two  like  ourselves  were  thus  strangely 
brought  together  merely  to  meet  and  part.  Our  hearts 
sprang  to  each  other  from  the  first;  did  they  not, 
Aaron  ?" 

"Indeed  and  indeed  they  did,"  was  the  ardent 
response  of  the  young  officer,  as  he  raised  the  hand 
which  lay  on  his  arm,  and  imprinted  a  fervent  kiss 
upon  it. 

Now  listen  to  me,  Aaron,  for  I  am  going  to  give 
you  my  very  soul." 

Major  Burr  turned  as  if  he  would  read  the  counte- 
nance of  his  companion ;  but  the  darkness  forbade  that, 
and  he  could  only  press  her  arm  in  acknowledgment 
of  the  confidence  he  was  prepared  to  receive. 
12* 


274  MARGARET  MONCRECFFB. 

"  I  shall  tell  you  all  frankly,  Aaron,  because  T  know 
you  will  not  betray  me,  at  least.  I  am  in  constant 
communication  with  those  whom  you  have  been  taught 
to  look  on  as  enemies ;  but  who,  for  my  sake,  dearest, 
are  henceforth  your  friends.  Are  they  not  ?" 

For  an  instant  Major  Burr  was  silent.  He,  of  course 
surmised  ;  nay,  knew,  from  what  she  had  previously 
said,  that  she  was  so  strongly  attached  to  the  interests 
of  the  Royalists,  she  would  not  scruple  at  anything  to 
serve  that  cause ;  but  he  had  not  known  that  she  was 
so  closely  connected  with  the  cause  which  he  had 
learned  to  condemn.  Indeed,  until  this  moment,  he 
scarcely  realized  his  true  position  with  regard  to  Mar- 
garet, and  his  pledges  to  her,  so  wildly,  madly,  blindly 
did  he  love  her.  The  alternative  was  now  plainly  pre- 
sented to  him,  and  he  either  must  lose  her,  or,  in  win- 
ning her,  sacrifice  all  he  had  been  accustomed  to  look 
upon  as  sacred  and  honorable.  He  must  sacrifice  name, 
position,  character,  reputation,  and  honor,  but  his  re- 
ward would  be  Margaret.  True,  she  had  promised 
him  wealth,  rank,  and  station ;  but  how  could  she,  a 
mere  girl,  exercise  such  influence  ?  If  she  could,  would 
they  restore  to  him  the  name  and  fame  and  character 
he  must  lose;  and  above  all,  the  consciousness  that 
he  had  proved  faithless  to  his  country's  cause  ?  These, 
and  a  hundred  similar  thoughts  flashed  through  his 
brain  in  the  few  moments  of  silence  which  followed  the 
last  words  uttered  by  Margaret,  and  his  mind  was  not 


THE  TEMPTRESS  CONQUEBS.  275 

fixed  upon  anything  definite,  nor  had  he  brought  him- 
self  to  resolve  on  any  particular  course  of  action,  when 
he  was  aroused  from  his  reverie  by  a  gentle  pressure 
of  the  arm  which  lay  within  his  own,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  heard  a  gentle  sigh. 

These  recalled  him  to  himself,  and  seizing  the  hand 
which  hung  over  his  arm,  he  raised  it  to  his  lips,  and 
murmured :  "  Dear  Margaret,  do  with  me  as  you 
choose ;  but  do  not  tell  me  more  now — do  not  insist 
that  I  shall  so  soon  forget  the  ties  which  have  hitherto 
bound  me  to  those  with  whom  I  am  associated 
now." 

"  I  do  not  ask  you,  Aaron,  to  say,  or  do,  nor  even  to 
think,  anything  by  which  you  may  be  compromised  or 
your  fair  name  tarnished.  I  only  ask  that  when  the 
hour  for  action  arrives,  and  it  will  soon  come,  you  wilJ 
act  with  us.  Shall  that  be  so  ?" 

"  By  my  love  for  you,  yes,"  and  he  sealed  his  pledge 
with  a  kiss  upon  her  fair  hand. 

"  Now,  Aaron,  all  I  ask  is,  that  you  forget  what  I 
have  told  you  for  the  present.  I  do  not  need  aid  from 
you,  for  I  have  means  of  information  as  correct  as  your- 
self. A  very  few  days  will  decide  which  party  is  to 
be  victorious." 

"  A  very  few  days  ?"  echoed  the  major,  inquiringly. 

"  Yes,  Aaron,  a  very  few  days.  Even  now  the 
whole  of  his  majesty's  fleet  is  close  at  hand,  bearing 
with  it  thousands  of  hardy,  tried,  and  disciplined 


27«  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFK.    . 

troops.  If  the  blow  which  it  is  contemplated  to  strike 
first  shall  fail,  those  troops  will  be  landed,  and  you 
know  how  poor  a  chance  your  undisciplined  and 
half-clad  men  would  stand  against  such  an  army  as  is 
already  close  at  hand.  I  tell  you,  Aaron,"  and  a 
glance  of  pride  and  triumph  crossed  her  features  as  she 
spoke,  "this  war  will  be  ended  in  less  than  three 
months ;  the  rebellious  colonists  will  be  dealt  severely 
with,  while  those  who  have  remained  true  to  their 
king,  and,  above  all,  those  who  have  abjured  or  for- 
saken their  errors,  will  be  nobly  rewarded.  As  for 
you,  a  few  days  will  suffice  to  prove  that  Margaret 
Moncriefie  has  promised  nothing  which  she  cannot 
perform." 

"  But,  Margaret,"  inquired  the  major,  almost  in  a 
whisper,  "  it  is  evident  that  some  plot  is  hatching- 
some  conspiracy  breeding ;  do  you  count  the  conse- 
quences of  an  ultimate  discovery,  in  case  it  should  be 
ascertained  that  you  were  implicated  ?" 

"  My  friends  here  will  make  every  preparation  for 
my  security,  and  at  the  first  alarm  we  would  fly — 
would  we  not,  Aaron — would  you  not  go  with  me  ?" 

"  To  the  end  of  the  world,  Margaret.  Everything 
for  you — nothing  without  you.  I  will  not  ask,  for  I 
do  not  wish  to  know,  what  the  plot  is  ;  it  is  better  I 
should  not.  But  I  have  given  my  word  to  you,  and 
no  matter  what  it  may  be,  when  the  hour  for  action 
comes,  you  will  find  me  ready." 


THE  TEMPTRESS   CONQUERS.  277 

"  Do  you  know  this  young  Blanchard,  of  McDougal'3 
regiment  ?" 

"  I  was  only  introduced  to  him  this  morning  by  hia 
brother.  What  of  him?" 

"  Nothing  especial,  only  I  desire  unrestrained  com- 
munication with  him." 

"  So  far  as  I  can  aid  in  that,  no  one  shall,  prevent 
it." 

'*  I  am  playing  a  little  game  with  him." 

*'  Surely,  Margaret,  you  do  not  expect  to  buy  him 
over  to  your  side  ?" 

"  Our  side,  Aaron.  No,  that  is  already  done.  Gold 
has  done  that  for  him  long  ago.  He  had  his  price,  and 
it  was  paid." 

"  "Well,  I  must  confess  I  am  surprised.  Are  there 
others  of" 

"  Do  not  ask  too  much.  Nothing  is  said  or  done  in 
this  city  which  is  not  known  to  Governor  Tryon  within 
twelve  hours — not  an  order  given  which  is  not  reported 
to  him ;  and  his  plans  are  so  well  laid,  and  so  many 
have  pledged  themselves  to  aid  him  in  carrying  them 
to  consummation,  that  success  is  certain,  and  cannot 
be  prevented  except  by  an  untimely  discovery.  Come, 
now,  let  us  talk  of  other  things,"  and  Margaret,  who 
possessed  powers  of  conversation  really  fascinating, 
goon  drew  her  lover  from  himself,  by  her  vivid  descrip- 
tion of  her  beautiful  home  in  England,  of  the  wealth 
and  luxury  by  which  they  would  be  surrounded,  when 


278  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

at  the  close  of  the  war,  they  could  retire  thither,  and 
pass  their  days  in  the  peaceful  repose  of  domestic  hap- 
piness. She  told  him  of  the  court  and  its  splendors ; 
charmed  him  by  the  brilliant  picture  she  drew  of  his 
future  career  in  their  new  home,  and  when  they 
parted,  almost  at  midnight,  with  an  ardent  embrace, 
Major  Burr  was  so  completely  enchanted,  he  would 
have  enlisted  under  the  banners  of  Beelzebub,  provided 
Mai-garot  belonged  to  the  corpg. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

A   DINJtfER   PARTY    AXD    A   QUARREL. 

AMONG  the  notabilities  of  New  York,  at  the  period 
of  which  this  narration  treats,  none  was  more  conspicu- 
ous than  Major  Sraallwood,  who  commanded  the  Mary- 
land battalion,  which  was  distinguished  as  well  for  its 
splendid  uniform  (described  in  another  chapter)  as  for 
the  strict  discipline  which  he  preserved,  despite  the 
great  license  granted  by  other  commanders.  The 
major  was  a  gallant  southerner — a  chivalrous,  high- 
toned  gentleman.  Possessing  in  his  own  right  an 
ample  fortune,  he  had  devoted  that,  as  he  had  dedi- 
cated his  life,  to  the  cause  of  his  country. 

It  was  his  practice  to  have  a  regular  weekly  mess- 
dinner,  to  which  all  the  officers  of  his  battalion  were 
invited,  and  as  many  friends  as  his  quarters  would 
accommodate. 

On  the  day  after  the  last  interview  between  the 
Blanchard  brothers,  his  weekly  dinner  was  given,  and 
having  heard,  through  Captain  Barnum,  of  their  rela- 
tionship, and  of  the  singular  manner  in  which  it  had 
been  discovered,  both  had  been  invited  and  accepted 


280  MAKGAKET  MOXCBTEFFE. 

his  invitation,  but  of  course  unknown  to  each  other, 
as  from  the  occasion  of  the  interview  before  detailed, 
Arthur  had  studiously  avoided  all  places  where  he 
might  meet  his  brother. 

Chance,  or  providence,  or  destiny,  placed  the 
brothers  far  apart  at  the  table.  Captain  Arthur,  the 
Royalist,  was  seated  next  to  Captain  Edwards,  of  the 
battalion,  while  Edmund  had  been  assigned  a  seat  near 
Major  Small  wood,  a  compliment  intentionally  paid  in 
view  of  the  high  state  of  discipline  to  which  he  had 
brought  his  corps. 

The  dinner  passed  off  pleasantly.  Wit  and  jest  had 
flown  freely  around,  and  every  one  seemed  to  be  on 
the  best  possible  terms  with  everybody  else.  The 
cloth  was  removed,  and  the  wines  being  duly  placed 
on  the  table,  the  guests  were  called  on  severally  for 
their  toasts,  and  all,  knowing  the  peculiar  position  of 
Captain  Arthur  Blanchard,  were  particular  to  avoid 
anything  which  might  be  construed  into  a  possible 
intention  to  affront  him. 

It  came  at  length  to  the  turn  of  Edmund  Blanchard 
to  propose  a  toast,  and  as  he  rose,  it  was  evident  he 
had  been  indulging  too  freely  in  the  generous  wines 
which  had  been  set  before  him. 

When  called  upon,  he  arose,  and  leaning  one  hand 
on  the  table  to  steady  himself,  he  proposed,  "the  Ni- 
non d'Enclos  of  New  York — Lizzie  Brainard." 

Truth  compels  me  t«  say,  that  out  of  all  that  com- 


A   DEfNEK   PARTY    A.vt>   A    QtTARREL.  281 

pany  present,  thei<i  were  very  few  who  had  ever  heard 
or  i-ead  of  "  Ninon  ti'jEnclos,"  and  fewer  still  who  could 
appreciate  the  allusion  conveyed  in  the  toast.  Most 
of  tLv;m  heard  only  tiio  name  of  "  Lizzie  Brainard," 
and  teased  off  their  glasses,  thinking  they  were  toasting 
her;  while  others,  only  half  conscious  of  what  they 
were  doing,  drank  the  toast,  presuming  that  it  was 
some  sp&oial  compliment  to  her. 

There  were,  however,  three  present  whose  glasses 
remained  untouched ;  Major  Smallwood,  Captain  Ed- 
wards, ai«d  the  Royalist  Blanchard. 

As  Edmund  Blanchard,  already  affected  by  the  wine 
he  had  drank,  tossed  off  his  glass,  he  turned  and 
glanced  around  the  assemblage ;  his  eye  fell  first  on 
Captain  Edwards,  and  he  said  with  an  asperity  of  man- 
ner excusable  only  from  his  condition,  "  I  see  you  do 
not  drink  to  my  toast,  Captain  Edwards." 

*'  I  could  not,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  coldly  delivered. 

"  And  why  not,  pray  ?"  asked  the  young  officer,  now 
half  aroused  to  anger,  for  he  had  drank  just  enough  to 
take  offence  at  the  slightest  cause. 

"  I  will  not  insult  any  woman  whom  I  believe  to  be 
honest,  truthful  and  virtuous,  by  drinking  to  a  senti- 
ment which  connects  her  name  with  so  much  infamy." 

At  these  words  many  of  the  young  officers  who  had 
drank  the  toast,  hearing  only  Lizzie  Brainard's  name, 
pricked  up  their  ears  and  looked  at  each  other,  as  if 
wondering  what  they  had  done. 


282  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

"  You  are  mighty  sensitive,  sir,"  said  the  young  offi- 
cer, again  filling  his  glass.  Perhaps  you  did  not  hear 
the  toast  ;  let  me  repeat  it." 

"  No,  sir,"  responded  Captain  Edwards,  arising,  "  you 
need  not  repeat  it  ;  I  will  not  drink  it." 

"  You  will  not  ?"  asked  Edmund,  with  a  flushed  face 
and  flashing  eyes. 

"I  have  said  so,  sir,"  quietly  responded  Captain  Ed- 
wards. "  I  will  not  insult  any  woman  for  whom  I  cher- 
ish so  much  respect  as  I  do  for  Miss  Brainard,  by 
drinking  such  a  toast." 

"  That  is  personal,  sir,"  exclaimed  Captain  Blanchard, 
rising. 

"  I  am  content  to  have  it  so,"  coolly  replied  Captain 
Edwards,  toying  with  his  wine-glass,  yet  full. 

"  You  will  compel  me  to  feel  that  you  intend  to  insult 
me,  Captain  Edwards." 

"  I  would  rather  have  you  think  so,  sir,  than  feel  that 
I  could  be  so  base  as  to  drag  the  name  of  a  virtuous 
girl  into  such  a  connection." 

"Virtuous!"  laughed  Captain  Blanchard.  "Oh, 
very  well,  sir,  if  you  are  her  champion,  I  have  no  more 
to  say,  so  you  need  not  drink  my  toast.  You  know 
her,  I  suppose,  as-  well  as  I  do,"  and  he  spoke  sneer- 


"  Gentlemen,"  said  Major  Smallwood,  "  this  must 
stop,"  and  he  held  up  his  own  glass,  yet  untouched. 
"  I  would  not  drink  to  that  toast,  myself.  Captain  Ed- 


A  DINNER  PARTY   AND  A  QTTABRKL.  288 

wards,  I  thank  you  for  caring  for  the  honor  of  our 
corps." 

"  Thank  you,  major,"  responded  the  captain,  and  as 
he  spoke,  he  turned  his  wine  upon  the  floor,  with  a 
glance  of  contempt  at  Edmund  Blanchard. 

"  I  understand  you,  sir,"  said  the  young  Provincial, 
with  a  meaning  look,  "  we  can  settle  this  hereafter. 
Major  Smallwood,  I  ask  your  pardon  for  having  pro- 
posed a  sentiment  which  does  not  seem  acceptable  to 
Captain  Edwards." 

44  Nor  to  me,  sir,"  coolly  said  Major  Smallwood,  inter- 
rupting him. 

"  Oh,  very  well,  one  at  a  time.  Captain  Edwards,  I 
drink  my  respects  to  you,  and  our  speedy  meeting." 

Everybody  present  knew  well  what  this  meant,  and 
no  one  was  surprised  when  Captain  Edwards,  who  had 
refilled  his  glass,  turned  it  off,  with  a  courteous  bow  to 
the  young  Provincial. 

"  Come,  gentlemen,"  said  Major  Smallwood,  who 
had  been  pained  by  this  interruption  to  the  harmony 
at  the  festive  board,  "  allow  me  to  propose  a  toast,  and 
I  scarcely  think  any  gentleman  will  refuse  to  join  me. 
If  he  does,  I  certainly  shall  not  quarrel  with  him ;  I 
propose  the  belle  of  New  York — Miss  Moncrieffe." 

The  toast  was  responded  to,  not  only  by  the  prompt 
emptying  of  every  glass,  but  was  hailed  with  uproar- 
ious cheers  ;  for  every  officer  present  had  either  seen 
Margaret,  or  had  heard  marvellous  accounts  of  her 


284  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

matchless  beauty  and  irresistible  powers  of  fascina- 
tion. 

The  harmony  of  the  evening  was  completely  de- 
stroyed by  the  rash  conduct  of  Edmund  Blanchard,  and 
the  guests  departed  at  a  much  earlier  hour  than  had 
been  their  wont  on  such  occasions.  Captain  Edwards, 
as  the  door  was  reached,  sought  for,  and  took  the  arm 
of  Captain  Arthur  Blanchard,  and  said,  as  they  moved 
onward :  "  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  fight  that  drunken 
fool." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  captain,  "  I  am  afraid  you  will." 

"  Oh,  you  need  not  be  afraid  on  my  account.  I  was 
bred  to  honor  and  respect  women,  and  when  I  heard 
the  name  of  an  honest,  virtuous  girl  brought  in  such 
infamous  contact,  my  manhood  would  not  allow  me  to 
pass  it  unnoticed." 

"  From  your  remark,  Captain  Edwards,"  said  the 
Royalist,  "  I  surmise  that  you  require  the  services  of  a 
friend." 

"  You  have  guessed  rightly,"  was  the  response. 

"  Are  you  aware  of  the  relationship  existing  between 
the  officer  who  insulted  you  so  grossly,  and  myself?" 

"Assuredly  not.  I  only  know  that  you  bear  the 
game  name — surely  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  in  a 
city  garrisoned  by  thirteen  thousand  soldiers  from 
every  quarter  of  this  widespread  land." 

"He  ie  my  younger  brother — my  only  living  rela- 
tive— and  when  I  say  this,  I  am  sure  I  have  said 


A   DINXEK   PARTY   AND   A   QUARREL.  285 

enough  to  justify  you  in  pardoning  me  for  not  offering 
my  services  at  this  moment." 

"  You  surprise  and  distress  me,  Captain  Blanchard," 
said  Captain  Edwards,  with  an  expression  of  pain. 

"  Oh,  do  not  feel  distressed  on  my  account.  I  am 
free  to  admit  that  he  deserves  no  mercy  at  the  hands 
of  any  gentleman ;  for  a  man  who  would  thus  ruth- 
lessly drag  a  woman's  name  so  publicly  before  a  crowd 
of  men,  and  darken  her  fair  fame  by  such  a  foul  insinu- 
ation, scarcely  deserves  the  honor  you  intend  accord- 
ing to  him.  But  come,  leaving  her  out  of  the  question, 
how  else  can  I  serve  you  ?" 

"  Find  some  one  who  will  act  as  my  friend  in  this 
matter ;  there  are  plenty  in  our  battalion  who  would 
gladly  serve  me,  but  I  ought  not  to  ask  them." 

"  I  will  see  you  to-morrow  before  seven  o'clock,  and 
bring  with  me  one  on  whom  you  can  rely.  I  shall  be 
with  you,  but  not  for  you,  Captain  Edwards,"  he 
added,  sadly. 

"  I  understand  you,  captain,  and  am  the  more  grate 
ful  for  your  present  kindness.  At  seven  to-morrow  ?" 

"  At  seven,  Captain  Edwards,  you  may  rely  upon 
me,"  and  as  they  reached  the  corner  of  John  street, 
the  friends  shook  hands  ;  the  one  to  return  to  his  quar- 
ters which  he  had  just  left,  the  other  wended  his 
way  to  the  house  occupied  by  Mrs.  Brainard,  for  tho 
hou»  was  not  too  late  for  a  visit  there,  the  dinner-party 
hav  ig  been  broken  up  two  hours  before  the  usual 


286  MARGARET   MOXCKIEFFB. 

time,  by  the  rash  and  inconsiderate  conduct  of  Edmund 
Blanchard. 

The  shop  was  closed ;  but  the  light  streaming 
through  the  shutters,  showed  that  the  family  had  not 
retired.  His  rap  at  the  door  was  answered,  contrary 
to  his  expectations,  but  much  to  his  pleasure,  by  a 
gruff,  manly  voice  demanding  who  was  there,  and,  at 
the  announcement  of  his  name,  the  door  was  instantly 
thrown  open,  and  the  captain  found  himself  face  to  face 
with  a  fine,  stalwart,  hearty-looking  young  fellow,  wear- 
ing the  uniform  of  McDougal's  regiment. 

"  Are  you  Lieutenant  Brainard  ?"  he  asked,  in  a  low 
voice,  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  young  officer. 

"  I  am  so  called,"  was  the  reply,  civilly  returned,  as 
the  young  soldier  surveyed  the  visitor.  "  Will  you  not 
walk  in,  Captain  Blanchard  ?" 

"  No,  I  thank  you,  not  just  now.  Please  put  on 
your  hat,  and  walk  with  me  a  few  steps.  Make  any 
excuse  to  get  away  from  your  mother  and  sister.  I 
wish  very  much  to  speak  with  you  in  private." 

At  this  moment  Lizzie,  who  had  also  heard  the 
knock  at  the  door,  and  whose  heart,  ever  prompting 
her  to  think  of  Edmund,  led  her  to  hope  it  was  him- 
self, approached  the  door,  and  seeing  the  Royalist, 
pushed  past  her  brother,  and,  extending  her  hand, 
said  :  "  Oh,  come  ha,  captain ;  do  come  in." 

"  Thank  you,  no.     This  is  your  brother,  I  believe." 

"  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon.    Brother  Albert,  this  is 


A.  DINNEE  PARTY   JXD  A   QTJAEEEL.  287 

Captain  Blanchard,  Edmund's  brother,  I  have  so  often 
spoken  of  to  you." 

"  Yes,  Lizzie,  he  gave  me  his  name  before  I  opened 
the  door;  but  he  has  declined  to  come  in.  He  has 
some  message  for  me.  I  will  walk  a  little  way  with 
him,  and  return  soon.  Bring  my  hat,  Lizzie  ;  and  as 
his  sister  went  back  into  the  house,  Captain  Blanchard 
whispered,  "Don't  answer  any  of  her  questions." 
Contrary  to  the  usual  custom  of  women.  Lizzie  brought 
her  brother's  hat,  and  actually  suffered  them  to  depart 
without  asking  a  single  question. 

"  Well,  captain,  and  in  what  can  I  serve  you  ?"  asked 
the  young  officer,  as  they  moved  away  from  the  house, 
arm  in  arm. 

"  You  love  your  sister  very  much  ?"  asked  Arthur. 

"  That  is  a  very  singular  question  to  ask  me — her 
brother." 

"  She  is  worthy  of  your  love,  my  young  friend. 
But  now  to  business.  Her  name  has  been  most  grossly 
misused  to-night,  and  a  friend  of  mine  has  taken  it  up 
for  her.  A  challenge  must  follow.  Will  you  serve  the 
gentleman  who  has  taken  your  sister's  part  ?" 

"  No,  by  heavens !"  exclaimed  the  young  officer, 
firmly,  "  I  will  take  his  place." 

"  No,  sir,  that  cannot  possibly  be.  My  peculiar  posi- 
tion forbids  that  I  should  act  for  him,  much  as  I  approve 
his  course.  You  will  know  all  the  circumstances  to-mor- 
row. Will  you  act  in  my  stead,  as  the  friend  to  him 


288  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

who  has  rescued  your  sister's  name  from  infamous  in 
einuations  ?" 

"  In  any  stead,  sir,  and  thank  you  for  the  privilege 
You  are  very  kind,  Captain  Blanchard,  to  grant  me 
this  favor.  But  who  is  the  scoundrel  who  has  dared 
to  connect  my  sister's  name  with  anything  of 
wrong  ?" 

"  You  will  know  in  due  time,  and  when  you  leai-n  his 
name,  you  will  not  wonder  that  I  have  asked  some  one 
to  take  the  place  which  I  ought  to  have  claimed.  Now 
listen  to  me,"  and,  linking  arms  with  the  young  captain, 
he  proceeded  to  narrate  the  occurrences  of  the  dinner- 
table,  concealing  the  name,  however,  of  the  offending 
party. 

"  And  you  will  act  for  him  ?"  he  asked,  when  he  had 
closed  his  narrative. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  though  I  would  rather  take  hia 
place.  Captain,  I  am  not  used  to  anything  of  this 
kind.  I  must  ask  you  to  give  me  some  instructions." 

"  Come,  then,  and  share  my  quarters  for  the  night, 
and  I  will  put  you  in  the  way  of  serving  your  sister's 
friend.  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  have  been  in  many  similar 
affairs.  Return  home  now.  Make  any  excuse  you 
choose,  and  come  around  to  my  rooms  as  soon  as  you 
can  get  away ;  but  be'  cautious,  and  do  not  say  any- 
thing to  alarm  Lizzie  or  your  mother." 

The  next  morning  before  Captain  Blanchard  had  fin- 
ished his  breakfast,  Captain  Edwards  was  at  his  rooms, 


A   DINNER  PARTY   AND   A   QUAKEEL.  289 

and  with  a  smile,  handed  him  the  missive  he  had  just 
received. 

"Captain  Edwards,"  said  Arthur,  as  he  took  the 
note,  "  this  is  Lieutenant  Brainard,  the  brother  of  the 
young  lady  whose  name  and  reputation  you  so  promptly 
defended  last  night,  and  surely  no  one  has  a  better  right 
to  act  for  you  than  himself." 

The  captain  greeted  the  young  soldier  warmly,  and 
a  very  few  minutes  sufficed  to  place  him  in  possession 
of  the  circumstances  which  had  led  to  this  call  for 
satisfaction. 

The  rage  and  shame  of  Albert  Braicard,  when  he 
learned  the  name  of  him  who  had  traduced  his  sister, 
were  indescribable.  He  begged  and  implored  the  cap- 
tain to  let  him  take  his  place  ;  but  that  was,  of  course, 
out  of  the  question,  and  the  preliminaries  having  been 
arranged  between  them,  it  was  settled  that  the  meeting 
should  take  place  in  the  Bowery  lane  (now  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Third  and  Fourth  Avenues),  at  an  early  hour 
on  the  following  morning,  and  everything  was  left  to 
Captain  Blanchard  and  the  young  Provincial. 

When  Captain  Edwards  had  left,  Captain  Blanchard 
gradually,  but  kindly,  communicated  to  him  his  brother's 
desertion  of  Lizzie,  and  his  sudden  attachment  to  Miss 
Moncrieffe,  but  he  did  not  dare  to  tell  him  all  he  had 
heard — that  would  come  to  him  soon  enough,  no  matter 
what  might  be  the  result  of  the  meeting  between  th« 
two  officers. 

13 


290  MARGA.KET   MONOETEFFB. 

Everything  being  arranged,  Albert  Brainard  r^ 
turned  to  his  mother's  home  with  a  weight  upon  his 
heart,  such  as  he  had  never  known  before.  He  dreaded 
t  $  make  known  to  his  sister  what  he  had  heard  as  to 
the  infidelity  of  Captain  Blanchard,  to  whom  he  knew 
she  was  strongly  attached,  and  whom  they  had  looked 
upon  as  her  future  husband.  When  he  reached  the 
house,  he  was  not  sorry  to  find  his  mother  absent,  and 
taking  a  seat  opposite  his  sister,  in  their  little  parlor, 
which  commanded  a  full  view  of  the  shop,  he  looked 
at  her  as  she  sat  there,  the  personation  of  youth,  health 
and  innocent  beauty,  and  his  heart  ached  as  he  dwelt 
upon  the  blow  which  he  was  about  to  inflict ;  and  as  she 
raised  her  eyes  from  her  work  and  fixed  them  upon  him 
with  looks  of  sisterly  affection,  tears  gathered  in  his 
own.  Lizzie  perceived  the  tears  coursing  down  her 
brother's  cheeks,  and  hastily  dropping  her  work,  arose 
and  placing  one  hand  on  his  shoulder,  inquired,  sooth- 
ingly, what  ailed  him. 

"  I  have  heard  some  very  unpleasant  news  this  morn- 
ing, Lizzie." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  you,  Albert,"  she  said,  smoothing 
down  his  hair  as  she  spoke.  "  Can  I  do  anything  t<? 
cheer  you?" 

"  Poor  Lizzie !"  he  said,  "  you  need  comfort  more 
than  I  shall.  My  news  concerns  you  as  deeply  as  myself." 

"  Concerns  me,  Albert,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  start, 
and  as  she  spoke,  the  color  deserted  her  cheeks. 


A   DISXEE   PABTY   A^  A   QUAEKKL.  291 

"  You  have  heard,  of  course,  of  this  young  lady 
at  General  Putnam's — Miss  Moncrieffe — everybody  is 
talking  about  her." 

Lizzie  could  not  reply  with  -words ;  a  choking  sensa- 
tion about  the  throat  prevented  her  utterance,  but  she 
nodded  her  head  affirmatively. 

*'  Have  you  heard  her  name  mentioned  in  connection 
with  that  of  any  officer  in  the  city  ?" 

Dark  forebodings  crossed  Lizzie's  mind,  as  her 
brother  spoke  thus,  for  her  heart  half  divined  what  he 
hesitated  to  say. 

"  How  does  that  concern  me,  Albert  ?"  she  asked,  in 
tones  of  deep  emotion. 

"  Edmund  Blauchard  has  forgotten  his  honor,  ir,  m- 
hood,  and  truth,  and  " 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that,  brother  !"  Lizzie  exclaimed,  u 
tones  of  agony,  and  HS  she  spoke  a  shudder  ran  through 
her  frame. 

"Lizzie,  dear,  my  darling  sister,  remember  who  yon 
are,  and  what  you  owe  to  yourself.  Edmund  Blanch 
ard  is  unworthy  the  love  of  any  virtuous  woman"  -. 

Before  he  could  finish  the  sentence,  the  hapless  girl, 
through  whose  busy  brain  ran  with  lightning  speed  the 
memory  of  her  past,  and  the  prospect  of  her  dark,  dis- 
mal future  ;  the  sacrifices  she  had  made  for  him  who  had 
now  proved  faithless ;  the  terrible  consequences  which 
must  result  from  a  discovery  of  hor  shame — a  mother 
broken-hearted,  a  brother  disgraot'l-  -aort,  ley  hnrsplf. 


292  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

the  scorn  and  contempt  of  the  world — all  flashed  across 
her  mind,  and  with  one  deep  sob,  she  made  an  effort  to 
approach  her  brother,  but  ere  she  could  reach  him,  sank 
heavily  upon  the  floor  in  a  death-like  swoon. 

Albert  Brainard  had  expected  tears  and  reproaches, 
but  he  had  not  looked  for  such  a  demonstration  of  feel- 
ing, and,  affrighted,  he  sprang  forward  and  lifting  the 
helpless  girl,  laid  her  upon  a,  couch  which  stood  on  one 
side  of  the  room. 

Fortunately,  during  this  scene,  no  person  had  entered 
the  shop,  and  Albert  had,  therefore,  ample  opportunity 
to  attend  to  his  helpless  sister,  and  was  enabled  to  avoid 
the  answering  of  any  questions.  In  a  few  minutes,  by 
the  aid  of  water  and  the  application  of  such  simple  re- 
storatives as  be  could  lay  his  hands  on,  Lizzie  recovered 
her  consciousness ;  and  when  she  languidly  opened  her 
eyes,  she  met  those  of  her  brother  fixed  upon  her  with 
an  expression  of  love  and  pity. 

A  deep  sigh  broke  from  her  lips,  a  shudder  rafi 
through  her  frame,  and  as  she  closed  her  eyes  again,  her 
brother  perceived  tears  trickling  through  the  closed 
lids. 

"  Oh,  Lizzie  1"  he  murmured,  bending  over  her,  "  did 
you  so  love  that  worthless  villain  ?" 

Lizzie  made  no  reply,  but  shook  her  head  languidly 
and  mournfully,  conveying  an  impression  deeper  than 
any  which  mere  words  could  express. 

"  No  matter,  my  dear  sister,  he  will  have  his  punish- 


A   DIXXER   PARTY   AND   A   QFARREL.  295 

mcnt  soon.  He  insulted  Captain  Edwards  last  night 
and  he  has  "been  challenged.  They  meet  to-morrow, 
and  if  Captain  Edwards  does  not  shoot  him,  I  will." 

Still  Lizzie  made  no  reply ;  but  as  she  heard  these 
words,  her  tears  flowed  more  freely,  and  her  whole 
frame  was  convulsed  with  indescribable  emotion. 
What  booted  his  death  to  her  ?  Would  it  restore  her 
honor  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  her  trusting  love  ? 
Would  it  screen  her  from  the  scorn  of  the  world  ? 
These  and  similar  thoughts  crossed  her,  and  as  her 
brother  finished  speaking,  she  arose  from  her 
recumbent  position  slowly,  and  fixing  her  eyes,  still 
running  over  with  tears,  on  him,  said :  "  I  hardly 
know  if  I  have  heard  you  rightly,  Albert;  wero 
you  saying  that  Edmund  Blanchard  had  proved  false 
to  me  ?" 

"  False  to  you,  and  faithless  to  every  sentiment  oi 
honor,  truth,  or  manhood.  Miss  Moncriefie,  it  seems* 
has  so  completely  " 

"  Miss  Moncriefie  !"  exclaimed  Lizzie,  actually  dash- 
ing away  the  tears  from  her  eyes ;  "  and  he  has  de- 
serted me  for  her  ?  Brother,  I  must  see  that  woman." 

"  Woman,  Lizzie  !  she  is  hardly  more  than  a  child." 

"  Be  she  what  she  may,  I  must  and  will  see  her. 
She  shall  know,  at  least,  his  faithlessness  and  my 
wrongs." 

"  It  would  be  folly,  Lizzie — it  would  be  worse  than 
folly — besides,  it  would  only  bring  on  you  remarks 


294  MAEGAEET   MONCEIEFFE. 

which  now  will  never  be  made ;  for  no  one  but  our« 
selves  know  of  the  affair." 

"  The  whole  city  will  ring  with  it  ere  long,  Albert," 
she  replied,  sadly,  though  he  little  dreamed  of  the  full 
import  of  her  words.  "  Yes,  my  dear  brother,  the 
city  will  know  it  all  in  tune,"  and  she  shuddered  as  she 
spoke  ;  for  the  thoughts  of  the  certain  infamy  which 
would  be  entailed  on  her,  and  the  misery  which  would 
be  brought  on  those  who  loved  her  so  dearly,  flashed 
through  her  brain.  "  No,  Albert,  I  must  see  Miss 
Moncrieffe — I  will  see  her,  and  you  must  not  try  to 
prevent  me.  I  do  not  believe  that  she,  whatever  she 
may  be,  would  receive  the  attentions  of  a  man  like 
Edmund  Blanchard  when  she  knows  the  truth.  Come, 
brother,  I  am  better,"  and  she  wiped  the  tears  from 
her  eyes ;  and  with  a  great  effort,  regained  her  com- 
posure, at  least  to  outward  appearances. 

"  I  think  you  do  yourself  a  great  wrong,  in  hum- 
bling yourself  before  Miss  Moncrieffe  or  any  other 
woman." 

"  I  shall  not  humble  myself,  rest  assured.  I  cannot 
forget  the  respect  I  owe  to  myself  or  my  family  ;  so, 
dear  brother,  have  no  fears  for  me  on  that  score.  I 
only  desire  that  Miss  Moncrieffe  shall  know  my  posi 
tion  with  regard  to  Edmund  Blanchard,  and  then  she 
may  take  her  own  course." 

"  I  suppose  you  feel  that  you  are  acting  right ;  but 
I  cannot  agree  with  you — so  act  at  your  own  pleasure. 


A    DINNER   PAHTY    AND    A    QrAKUEL.  295 

I  must  go  and  finish  my  preparations  for  the  meeting 
which  is  to  take  place  to-morrow  morning." 

The  entrance  of  Mrs.  Brainard  at  this  moment  put 
an  end  to  the  conversation  on  this  subject;  for,  by 
tacit  consent,  brother  and  sister  agreed  not  to  distress 
her  by  communicating  intelligence  which  they  knew 
would  cause  her  so  much  wretchedness. 

Albert  soon  took  his  leave,  with  a  meaning  glance  at 
his  sister,  which  was  returned,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
Lizzie,  making  some  pretence  for  her  absence,  put  on 
her  hat  and  shawl  and  left  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XXVH. 

K^ET  AND  LIZZIE   BBAINARD. 


Miss  MoNcaiE^'E  was  seated  in  her  own  room  ;  her 
sewing  lay  unnoticed  in  her  lap,  and,  from  the  expres- 
sion of  her  countenance,  it  was  evident  that  she  was 
engrossed  in  pleasant  thoughts. 

"  A  young  woman  to  see  you,"  said  Belle  Putnam, 
gently  opening  the  door,  without  waiting  for  an  answer 
to  her  summons. 

Margaret  started  from  hor  reverie,  and,  hastily  pass- 
ing her  hand  across  her  forehead,  as  if  to  collect  her 
wandering  thoughts,  said,  with  an  expression  of  sur- 
prise :  "  A  young  woman,  Belle,  to  see  me  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lady,"  replied  Belle,  with  an  affectation 
of  profound  respect  ;  for,  since  the  little  escapade  of 
the  letter  from  Governor  Tryon,  so  skillfully  misinter- 
preted, Belle  had  made  a  confidant  of  Margaret,  and 
had  intrusted  to  her  the  secret  of  her  own  heart. 
"  Your  ladyship,  I  suppose,  expected  "  - 

"  My  ladyship  didn't  expect  anything  or  anybody," 
said  Margaret,  with  a  smile.  "But  really,  I  can't 
imagine  what  any  young  woman  can  want  with  me  ;  I 
don't  know  half  a  dozen  ladies  in  the  city,  and  they 
would  not  feel  flattered  to  hear  Miss  Belle  Putnam  cal) 


MARGAKET   AXD   LIZZIE   BEAIXARD.  297 

them  young  women !  But  no  matter,  I  will  see  her 
here  if  you  have  no  objections.  There  may  be  some- 
body in  the  parlor,  and  perhaps  she  desires  to  see  me  in 
private,"  and  as  she  spoke,  the  thought  crossed  her 
mind  that  the  visitor  might  be  some  emissary  from  her 
Royalist  friends,  who  had  found  it  necessary  to  com- 
municate with  her  through  such  a  medium. 

In  a  very  few  moments  the  door  was  closed  upon  a 
young  and  certainly  very  handsome  woman,  a  stranger 
to  Margaret,  who,  scanning  her  hastily,  and  perceiving 
she  was  neatly  dressed,  invited  her  to  take  a  seat ;  and 
as  the  stranger  sank  into  a  chair,  Margaret,  with  an- 
other hasty  glance,  discovered  she  was  pale,  was 
trembling  excessively,  and  that  her  eyes  bore  traces  of 
recent  tears. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?"  she  asked,  in  kind  and 
earnest  tones. 

For  an  instant  her  visitor,  Lizzie  Brainard,  could 
not  speak.  Sobs  were  rising  in  her  throat,  whbh  she 
choked  down  with  a  strong  effort,  and  tears  were  com- 
ing from  her  eyes,  which  she  vainly  strove  to  force  back. 

Margaret  noticed  her  excessive  agitation,  and  paused 
a  moment  to  allow  her  to  recover  her  composure. 

"  Come,  young  lady,"  she  repeated  at  length,  "  in 
what  can  I  serve  you  ?" 

"In  all — in   everything — and  you  alone  can  serve 
me,"  replied  Lizzie,  clasping  her  hands,  and  looking  up 
tfl  Margaret  with  streaming  eyes. 
13* 


298  MAEGAKET   MONCKIEFFE. 

"  Then  I  ^  ill,  most  assuredly,"  said  Margaret,  whose 
interest  was  already  awakened  in  the  young  stranger, 
for  as  the  reader  has  already  discovered,  she  was  one 
of  those  impulsive  creatures  who  act  always  on  the  first 
promptings  of  her  feelings. 

"  Oh,  thank  and  bless  you,"  said  Lizzie,  striving  to 
dry  her  t^ears. 

"  Xever  mind  thanks  yet.     Now  what  can  I  do  ?" 

"  Captain  Blanchard,"  said  Lizzie.  "  You  know 
him  ?» 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Margaret,  for  the  instant  thrown 
off  her  guard,  supposing  Lizzie  was  a  messenger  from 
the  Royalist  captain  ;  "  he  has  known  me  ever  since  I 
was  a  child ;  he  is  a  very  dear  friend  of  my  father's." 

"I  did  not  know  you  had  ever  met  before,"  said 
Lizzie,  her  countenance  expressing  the  disappointment 
she  experienced  at  these  words.  "  Edmund  never 
mentioned  your  name  to  me." 

"  Oh,  Captain  Edmund,  you  mean,"  said  Margaret, 
glad  that  she  had  not  committed  herself,  yet  wondering 
what  could  have  brought  this  strange  girl  to  her  with 
that  name  on  her  lips. 

"  Yes,  Miss  Moncrieffe,  that  is  the  one  I  mean.  I 
do  not  know  his  brother ;  I  never  saw  him  but  once,  to 
know  them  as  brothers.  I  am  speaking  of  Captain 
Edmund  Blanchard." 

"  You  speak  very  familiarly  of  him,"  said  Margaret, 
eyeing  her  visitor  with  a  keen,  scrutinizing  glance. 


MAKGAKET   AXD   LIZZIE   BKArXAKD.  299 

"  I  have  a  right  to  do  so,  Miss  Moncrieffe." 

"  But  in  what  can  I  serve  you,  so  far  as  he  is  con- 
cerned ?"  and  Margaret  looked  at  Lizzie  with  an  air  of 
surprise. 

"In  what  can  you  serve  me?  "Why,  Miss  Mon- 
crieffe,  are  you  not  engaged  to  him? — I  do  not  mean 
exactly  that,"  she  interrupted  herself,  seeing  the 
heightened  color  on  Margaret's  cheeks.  "Is  he  not 
paying  attention  to  you  ?'» 

"Pray  tell  me,  young  woman,  first  what  is  your 
name  ?     I  can  converse  with  you  perhaps,  with  more 
freedom  when  I  know  it." 
'  Lizzie  Brainard." 

"  Then,  Lizzie,  pray  tell  me  what  earthly  reason  you 
have  for  asking  me  such  an  absurd,  such  a  ridiculous, 
question  ?  I  won't  call  it  impertinent,  for  I  think  I 
can  interpret  the  motive  of  your  visit,  and  I  will  ease 
your  mind  at  once.  I  never  saw  Captain  Blanchard — 
your  captain — more  than  half  a  dozen  times  in  my  life, 
and  have  no  more  thoughts  of  him  than  a  score  of 
others,  who  find  amusement  in  paying  compliments  and 
flatteries  to  me." 

"  And  is  he  not  paying  attention  to  you  ?  Oh,  do 
excuse  my  freedom,  miss,  but  I  am  very  unhappy.  I 
only  heard  this  morning  that  he  was  paying  attentions 
to  you,  and  that  he  had  spoken  slightingly  of  me,  and 
it  made  me  very  unhappy  to  hear  it,  I  assure  you." 

"  If  Captain  Blancharrf  has  said  anything  by  whicJ» 


300  MARGARET    MOXCRTEFFE. 

any  one  might  connect  my  name  with  his  own,  he  h.ia 
uttered  a  willful,  malicious  falsehood.  I  have  never  given 
him  reason  to  think  that  I  would  receive  his  attentions, 
and  certainly,  knowing  what  I  now  do,  I  would  not,  on 
any  consideration.  So  take  heart,  Lizzie,  and  believe 
me,  I  do  not  care  a  pin's  head  for  your  captain,  nor  do 
I  believe  he  does  for  me,  except  that  he  has  seen  a  new 
face,  though  I  am  sure  yours  is  pretty  enough  for  any 
one,"  and  she  gazed  earnestly  at  Lizzie,  whose  counte- 
nance, while  Margaret  was  speaking,  had  been  gradually 
lighted  up  with  pleasure.  "  But  is  there  anything  else 
in  which  I  can  serve  you  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  Miss  Moncrieffe.  You  are  here  at  head- 
quarters— do  have  that  duel  stopped.  I  have  heard 
that  you  can  do  almost  anything  with  General  Put- 
nam." 

"Duel,  child  1  I  do  not  know  what  you  are  talking 
about.  You  have  not  said  anything  about  a  duel." 

"  Yes,  miss,  last  night  Edmund  and  Captain  Ed- 
wards, of  Major  Smallwood's  corps,  quarrelled,  and 
they  are  to  fight  to-morrow  morning.  Oh,  do  stop  it, 
Miss  Moncrieffe." 

"  What  was  the  cause  of  this  quarrel  ?  No  matter 
tvhat  was  the  cause  ;  for  your  sake  Lizzie,  as  you  have 
come  to  me,  I  will  stop  it ;  so  you  may  rest  quiet  on 
that  score." 

"  Thank  you,  again  and  again,  Miss  Moncriefle.  You 
have  made  me  very  happy." 


MAKGAHET   AND   LIZZIE   BRAINA.ED.  801 

**  And  you  love  Captain  Blanchard  so  much  ?" 

"  Oh,  better  than  my  life,  miss — better  than  words 
can  tell." 

"  And  he  was  deserting  you  on  my  account  ?" 

"  So  I  heard  from  my  brother." 

"  Well,  well— set  your  heart  at  rest.  The  duel  shall 
not  come  off,  and,  I  pledge  you  my  word,  your  captain 
shall  never  see  me  but  once  more." 

After  a  further  short  conversation,  in  the  course  of 
which  Margaret  reassured  poor  Lizzie  of  the  interest 
she  took  in  her,  she  took  leave  of  Margaret  with  a 
light  heart,  for  she  felt  that  once  Edmund  was  without 
the  pale  of  Margaret's  charms,  she  could  win  back  hia 
waning  love. 

Margaret  was  prompt  to  act  as  to  speak,  and  before 
three  hours  had  passed,  Captains  Blanchard  and  Ed- 
wards were  summoned  to  General  Putnam's  quar- 
ters. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  bluff  old  general,  when  they 
stood  before  him,  "  the  enemy  is  expected  here  daily, 
and  no  one  knows  when  our  city  may  be  attacked. 
Our  country  needs  every  man  for  its  defence,  and  you 
have  no  right  to  throw  away,  in  a  private  quarrel,  lives 
which  belong  to  your  country." 

The  captains  looked  at  each  other  in  amazement,  for 
they  could  not  imagine  how  the  matter  had  come  to 
the  general's  ears,  but  they  bowed  an  acquiescence  to 
his  remarks. 


102  MARGARET  MONCR1EFFE. 

"  Unless,"  continued  the  general,  "  you  pledge  to 
me  your  words  as  gentlemen  to  pursue  this  no  further, 
for  the  present,  at  least,  I  shall  put  you  both  under 
ai-rest,  and  keep  you  there  until  after  the  battle,  which 
we  will  have  soon  to  fight,  is  decided.  You  are  both 
brave  men,  I  know,  and  I  think  this  might  be 
arranged.  Come,  tell  me  what  it  is  all  about  ?" 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  general,"  said  Captain  Ed- 
wards,  "  I  leave  that  to  Captain  Blanchard." 

"  General  Putnam,"  said  the  officer  thus  applied  to, 
"  I  was  wrong ;  I  acted  rashly  and  foolishly.  Captain 
Edwards,  if  I  had  not  been  drinking,  I  should  riot  have 
said  what  I  did,  nor  acted  as  I  did.  I  am  really  sorry 
for  it,  and  ask  your  pardon." 

"That's  right— that's  manly,"  fairly  shouted  the 
general.  "  Captain  Edwards  give  him  your  hand. 
There ;  I  like  that,"  he  continued,  as  the  late  foes  shook 
hands.  "  Captain  Edwards,  will  you  do  me  the  favor 
to  say  to  Major  Smallwood  I  wish  very  much  to  see 
him ;"  and  the  captain,  with  a  cool  salute  to  Captain 
Blanchard,  bowed  himself  out. 

"  Captain  Blanchard,"  said  the  general,  "  Miss  Mou- 
crieffe  has  intrusted  me  with  a  request  to  see  you ;  you 
will  find  her  in  the  parlor ;"  and  with  a  very  distant 
Balute,  he  pointed  to  the  door  of  the  parlor,  which  ad- 
joined the  office  in  which  they  had  been  seated. 

Captain  Blanchard  entered  the  room  with  a  feeling 
of  apprehension  for  which  he  could  not  account,  and 


MARGARET    AND   LIZZIE   BRAIXARD.  303 

his  heart  fairly  sunk  within  him  as  he  saw  Margaret 
seated  there. 

Closing  the  door,  he  approached  her,  but  she  did  not 
rise  or  invite  him  to  take  a  seat,  but  gazed  upon  him 
with  a  look  of  sternness  and  contempt,  strangely 
blended. 

"  Captain  Blanchard,"  she  said,  with  a  cold,  stern 
expression,  as  he  stood  before  her,  unable  to  bear  the 
gaze  of  her  piercing  eyes,  "  I  have  heard  that  you  have 
been  taking  most  unwarrantable  liberties  with  my 
name." 

"  Oh,  Margaret !" he  exclaimed. 

But  she  hastily  interrupted  him,  by  saying :  "  Miss 
Moncrieffe,  sir.  You  will  please  to  remember,  Captain 
Blanchard,  that  a  few  harmless  pleasantries  passed  be- 
tween a  lady  and  a  gentleman,"  and  she  placed  a  terri- 
ble emphasis  on  that  word,  "  do  not  give  him  the  privi- 
lege of  boasting  of  a  conquest,  nor  using  her  name  in 
such  close  connection  with  his  own,  as  I  have  heard 
that  you  have  done  with  mine.  I  wish  you  good  morn- 
ing, sir ;"  and  before  the  astounded  officer  could  reply, 
she  arose  with  the  grace  and  dignity  of  a  queen,  and 
moving  toward  the  door,  turned  to  him  and  added, 
"  you  had  better  go  and  ask  pardon  of  one  who  has 
much  greater  cause  of  complaint  than  I  have,  against 
you.  Il  was  for  her  sake,  sir,  and  not  for  yours,  and  I 
have  to  tell  you  this,  for  fear  you  might  boast  of  my 
interest  in  you,  that  I  have  interfered  to  stop  this  meet 


304  MARGAKET   MOXCKIEFFE. 

ing.  Good  morning,  captain,"  and  before  he  could  rc» 
cover  from  bis  stupefaction,  Captain  Blanehard  wa« 
alone. 

He  did  not  dare  face  General  Putnam,  for  he  knew 
that  Margaret  had  communicated  everything  to  him, 
but  stole  quietly  out  of  the  house  and  moved  moodily 
toward  his  quarters,  cursing  himself,  Margaret,  and 
more  and  deeper  than  all,  poor,  disgraced  Lizzie,  whom 
he  conjectured,  though  he  knew  not  why,  was  at  the 
bottom  of  the  whole. 

Captain  Edwards,  ignorant,  of  course,  of  the  causa 
which  had  interfered  with  the  meeting,  retired  to  his 
quarters,  where  he  found  Lieutenant  Brainard  awaiting 
him,  to  whom  he  communicated  the  affair  which  had 
just  transpired,  and  he  at  once  made  known  to  his 
friend,  his  belief  that  his  sister  and  Miss  Moncrieffe  had 
outwitted  the  whole  of  them.  He  then  communicated 
to  the  captain  his  position  and  that  of  his  sister,  with 
reference  to  Captain  Blanehard,  and  expressed  a  deter- 
mination to  seek  the  earliest  opportunity  of  insulting 
him  so  grossly  that  no  apology  could  be  received. 
Captain  Edwards  of  course  proffered  his  services,  which 
were  accepted,  and  after  a  glass  of  wine  the  friends 
parted. 


CHAPTER 

CONSEQUENCES    OF   SETH»S   ESCAPE. 

THE  attempt  to  send  a  spy  among  the  Royalists  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  frequenting  Corbie's  house,  and  its 
failure,  had  shown  to  the  conspirators  that  they  were 
watched,  because  suspected,  and  it  was  therefore  re- 
solved no  more  assemblages  should  be  held  there  for 
especial  purposes,  but  that  henceforth  their  head-quar- 
ters should  be  at  the  tavern  of  Thomas  Mason,  also  a 
devoted  Royalist,  which  being  situated  directly  oppo- 
site General  Putnam's  residence,  would  be  less  liable 
to  suspicion ;  for  it  was  very  natural  to  suppose  that 
the  general  would  not  think  of  looking  for  a  nest  of 
conspirators  at  his  very  door. 

Mason's  house,  which  was  known  by  the  sign  of  the 
*' Highlanders,"  was  therefore  the  place  whence  all 
communications  would  emanate  for  the  future. 

Corbie's  (from  its  proximity  to  the  river,  and  the 
facility  which  its  situation  afforded  for  landing  of  a  boat 
without  fear  of  discovery)  was  still  the  depot  for  the 
receipt  of  the  letters  and  messages  so  constantly  pass- 
ing between  Governor  Tryon  and  Mayor  Matthew* 


306  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE 

(then  at  Flatbush)  and  the  Tory  residents*  of  tho  city 
who  had  joined  the  ranks  of  the  conspirators. 

Forbes  and  Corbie  took  upon  themselves  to  inform 
the  leaders  in  the  city  of  the  occurrences  narrated  in  a 
previous  chapter,  and  to  give  the  necessaiy  caution  as 
to  their  future  watchfulness;  for  a  discovery  now, 
would  not  only  foil  all  their  plans,  but  would  probably 
send  many  of  them  to  the  gallows ;  a  fate  which, 
however  merited,  they  were  not  yet  prepared  to 
meet. 

A  few  days  after  the  disappearance  of  Seth  Adams, 
General  Washington  returned  to  the  city  from  his  offi- 
cial visit  to  Philadelphia,  and  a   council  of  generals 
being  convened,  he  communicated  to  them  the  certain 
information  that  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Howe,  with  a    ; 
very  large  body  of  troops,  including  several  thousand 
Hessian  soldiers  all  under  the  command  of  Lord  Howe,    J 
were  even  now  on  the  voyage  to  New  York,  which 
would  be  the  first  point  of  attack,  and  who  might  be 
expected  daily. 

Orders  were  given  for  the  strengthening  of  all  the 
fortifications   on  the  island  which  would  present  any   | 
point  of  attack  to  the  invaders,  and  Long  Island,  with-  j 
in  the   circuit  of  several  miles  from  the  city,  was  di- 
rected to  be  fortified  and  occupied,  as  a  landing  would 
most  probably  be  first  attempted  there. 

The  most  stringent  rules  were  promulgated  for  the 
government  of  the  Tory  residents  of  the  city ;  many 


CONSEQUENCES    OP   SETH'S   ESCAPE.  007 

were  sent  out  of  the  city  ;  others,  who  had  given  b(  ndg 
for  their  good  behavior,  and  pledged  themselves  not  to 
take  side  against  the  colonists,  were  imprisoned,  on  in- 
formation that  they  had  violated  their  parole  by  too 
free  speech,  as  well  as  by  their  actions,  among  which  was 
the  refusal  to  take  Continental  money  at  par.  The 
houses  of  Corbie,  Mason,  Houndling,  and  of  Forbes,  the 
noted  gunsmith,  all  devoted  Royalists,  were  put  under 
strict  surveillance,  and  the  difficulty  of  communication 
between  the  conspirators  on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gor- 
don, and  those  in  the  city,  was  very  much  augmented 
by  the  measures  thus  adopted. 

Every  officer  and  soldier  was  now  more  constantly 
and  busily  engaged  than  ever,  in  carrying  out  the  or- 
ders of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  Major  Burr  found 
few  opportunities  of  private  conversation  with  Marga- 
ret ;  but  even  in  the  moments  which  they  managed  to 
steal  unnoticed,  their  vows  of  mutual  love  and  fidelity 
were  again  and  again  renewed,  and  Margaret  comforted 
her  lover  by  the  assurance  that  the  hour  for  action  was 
near  at  hand,  and 'that  their  future  would  be  all  sun- 
light and  happiness. 

On  one  occasion  she  found  time  to  say  to  him,  while 
a  bright  smile  illumined  her  face,  "  I  told  you,  Colonel 
Burr,  I  would  keep  my  promise." 

"  So  you  really  meant  it,  Margaret  ?"  he  asked, 
eagerly. 

*'  Did  I  ever  deceive  you,  Aaron  ?" 


308  MABGABET   MONCRIEFFE. 

"  Never,  Margaret,  never." 

"  I  have  in  my  apartment,  at  this  moment,  the  coin- 
mission  of  a  colonel  in  the  army  of  King  George,  in 
blank,  which  awaits  only  the  insertion  of  your  name  by 
me,  to  confer  upon  you  the  rank  and  title  which  I  pro- 
mised should  be  yours." 

"  How  little  worth  would  that  be  without  you,"  he 
said,  gazing  with  looks  of  fond  devotion  upon  the  lovely 
speaker  who  had  so  enslaved  him. 

And  she  spoke  the  truth.  Governor  Tryon,  who 
could  not  but  acknowledge  the  valuable  and  most  im- 
portant services  she  was  constantly  rendering  to  the 
king's  cause,  could  not,  and  did  not  deny  her  request, 
but  dispatched  to  her  the  commission  she  had  desired, 
in  blank,  leaving  her  to  insert  such  name  as  «he  might 
select,  receiving  however,  her  assurance  that  it  was  in- 
tended for  one  of  whom  the  Royal  army  might  be 
proud,  and  who,  young  as  he  was,  had  won  a  name  and 
imputation  excelled  by  none  in  the  army,  for  every 
quality  which  goes  to  make  up  the  soldier ;  one,  whose 
name,  however,  from  prudential  reasons,  she  thought 
proper  not  to  disclose  at  the  present  time.  Governor 
Tryon  had  already  received  such  abundant  evidence 
of  her  discretion,  that  he  was  perfectly  willing  to 
trust  her  to  any  extent,  and  therefore  his  readi- 
ness to  confide  to  her  such  an  important  document  in 
blank. 

The  gaieties  of  the  city  were  nearly  suspended  by  the 


CONSEQUENCES   OF  SETH'S   ESCAPE.  309 

necessity  for  making  preparations  to  receive  the  enemy ; 
but  the  wives  and  families  of  such  officers  as  were  on 
the  island  continued  to  visit  each  other,  and,  of  course, 
on  these  occasions  the  posture  of  affairs  was  freely 
canvassed. 

What  Margaret  did  not  hear  in  person,  she  was  sure 
to  hear  through  Belle  or  Mattie,  who  were  glad  enough 
to  escape  from  the  spinning-wheel,  and  steal  a  gossip- 
ping  chat  with  Margaret. 

Everything  she  heard — everything  she  saw — was 
immediately  made  known  to  Governor  Tryon,  through 
the  Royalist  Blanchard,  who  had  said  with  truth, 
and  it  might  be  escaped  any  taint  of  suspicion, 
that  no  one  in  the  city  had  rendered  such  essential 
service  to  the  cause  of  the  Royalists,  as  did  Margaret 
Moncrieffe. 

The  sentry  who  was  in  charge  of  the  "  brig,"  had 
quite  forgotten  all  about  his  prisoner's  request,  and  his 
own  gruff  reply ;  for  he  had  resumed  the  attempt  to 
read  as  soon  as  Seth  had  turned  away,  and  was  thus 
occupied  when  his  relief  came  to  take  his  place.  With 
a  yawn,  and  a  few  curses  upon  the  weather,  he  gave  up 
his  post,  and  retired  to  his  hammock,  entirely  unmind- 
ful of  what  had  transpired,  and  never  once  cast  his 
eyes  toward  the  prisoners  over  whom  he  had  been 
placed  in  charge.  The  other  marine,  of  course,  knew 
nothing  of  what  had  occurred  before  he  went  on  his 
post,  and,  taking  up  the  book  which  his  companion  had 


510  MARGARET  MONCRIKFFK. 

thrown  down  on  the  mess-chest,  he  was  very  soon 
as  deeply  absorbed  in  its  pages  as  his  comrade  had 
been. 

This  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  marine  was  most  for- 
tunate for  Seth ;  for  he  was  a  prisoner  of  so  much  im- 
portance, and  was  hi  possession  of  such  weighty  secrets 
(though  it  was  thought  that  he  knew  nothing  beyond 
what  he  had  heard  at  Corbie's,  while  he  lay  gagged 
and  bound),  his  safe  keeping  was  most  essential,  and 
instant  pursuit  in  every  direction  would  have  followed 
the  information  that  he  was  missing. 

It  was  not  until  daylight,  when  all  hands  were  turned 
out,  and  the  master-at-arms  came,  as  usual,  to  resume 
his  charge  of  the  prisoners,  that  he  was  missed,  and 
the  information  was  at  once  communicated  to  Governor 
Tryon  and  Captain  Chifihey.  Great  was  the  trouble 
and  confusion  incident  upon  this  revelation.  A  tho- 
rough and  strict  search  was  made  in  every  part  of 
the  ship,  and  every  spot  not  half  large  enough  to  hava 
held  a  boy  of  ten  years  of  age,  much  less  the  stalwart 
young  soldier,  was  ransacked  ;  but,  as  may  be  imagined, 
the  search  was  unavailing.  The  sentries  in  charge  of 
the  "  brig  "  during  the  night  (four  hi  number),  were 
called  up  and  examined.  Each  swore  through  thick 
and  thin  that  the  prisoners  were  all  secured  when  they 
took  post,  and  they  swore  to  what  they  really  believed ; 
but  this  did  not  save  them.  A  prisoner,  and  a  most 
important  one,  had  escaped  from  one  of  them,  and  as  tLa 


CONSEQUENCES   OF   SETH'S  ESCAPE.  311 

guilty  one  could  not  be  found  out,  all  were  treated 
alike. 

The  formality  of  a  court-martial  was  not  necessary, 
and  within  two  hours  after  the  discovery  that  Seti; 
Adams  had  escaped,  each  of  them  had  received  three 
dozen  with  the  cat  well  laid  on,  and  were  permitted  to 
groan  and  writhe  upon  the  berth  deck,  until  the  condi- 
tion of  their  lacerated  backs  might  enable  them 'to 
return  to  their  duty. 

Governor  Tryon  held  a  consultation  with  Captain 
Chiffney  and  the  principal  naval  and  army  officers  on 
board,  upon  this  occasion.  As  all  the  evidence  went  to 
show  that  the  prisoner,  when  last  seen,  was  securely 
ironed,  it  was  deemed  impossible  that  he  could  have 
eocaped  alive  if  he  had  fallen  or  jumped  overboard. 
Even  had  his  hands  been  free,  it  was  deemed  equally 
impossible  that  he  could  have  reached  the  shore  on 
Buch  a  night ;  but,  to  make  matters  more  sure,  a  boat 
was  dispatched  to  Staten  Island  to  ascertain  if  any 
person  had  landed  within  range  of  any  of  the  sentries 
which  lined  the  shore  during  the  night. 

The  assurance  being  given  that  no  one  had  been 
seen,  the  presumption  seemed  fair  that  he  had  fallen 
or  jumped  overboard  in  an  insane  attempt  to  escape, 
and  had  been  drowned,  and  the  majesty  of  the  law 
"  martial "  having  been  vindicated  by  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  offending  marines,  nothing  more  was 
said  about  it.  But  Colonel  Fanning  was  instructed, 


312  MAKGABET   MONCRIEFFB. 

on  tne  occasion  of  his  next  visit  to  Corbie's  with  dis- 
patches, to  notify  him  of  the  circumstances,  at  tne 
santi  urns,  however,  intimating  the  impression  of  the 
goernor  as  to  the  impossibility  of  Seth's  escape. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE     PATRIOT     OIBL. 

TUB  stringent  orders  issued  by  the  commander-in- 
cliief,  on  resuming  his  command,  rendered,  as  has  been 
said,  communication  between  the  conspirators  more 
than  usually  hazardous.  But  the  stake  was  too  great 
to  be  lost  sight  of,  and  the  boat  continued  to  ply 
between  the  "Duchess  of  Gordon,"  the  head-quarters 
of  Governor  Try  on,  and  the  city,  a  set  of  signals  having 
been  arranged,  by  which  due  warning  of  danger  was 
given.  Corbie  had  been,  in  accordance  with  the 
instructions  of  Governor  Tryon,  informed  of  the  loss  or 
escape  of  Seth  Adams,  a  matter,  however,  which  he 
treated  so  lightly,  that  he  had  mentioned  it  in  jest  to 
Forbes  and  one  or  two  of  his  intimates,  and  they 
agreed  with  the  governor  as  to  the  impossibility  of  his 
having  escaped  alive. 

They  therefore  continued  to  send  and  receive  mes- 
sages as  usual,  though  with  more  than  the  ordinary 
caution,  for  as  the  crisis  approached,  they  realized  not 
only  their  own  personal  danger,  but  feared  for  the 
success  of  the  important  enterprise  in  which  they  were 
embarked.  Thus  far  everything  had  prospered  as  well 
H  81S 


314  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFB. 

as  could  be  desired.  More  than  live  hundred  men  were 
enlisted  with  them,  many  bound  to  the  cause  by  ties 
of  loyalty  which  nothing  could  shake,  others  bought 
over  by  gold  and  promises  of  future  grandeur.  They 
awaited  now  only  the  arrival  of  the  fleet  bearing.  Lord 
Howe,  and  the  mine  laid  with  such  consummate  skill 
and  caution  was  ready  to  be  sprung,  and  while  the) 
are  reposing  in  this  fancied  security,  let  us  turn  to  Seth 
Adams. 

"Seth,  dear  Seth,"  said  the  old  lady,  as  he  gave 
signs  of  returning  animation,  after  swallowing  the 
rum  Patsy  had  brought  him,  "  what  on  airth  does  this 
mean  ?" 

"  Wait  a  little,  aunty,"  said  Seth,  in  a  feeble  voice, 
for  he  was  weakened  almost  to  helplessness.  "  Patsy, 
give  me  some  more,"  and  the  bottle  was  again  handed 
to  huii,  from  which  he  drew  another  hearty  pull. 
"  Now,  aunty,"  he  said,  straightening  himself  up.  "  Oh, 
Patsy  !  I  forgot — bring  me  something,"  and  he  pointed 
to  his  naked  and  bleeding  body.  "  Never  mind  them, 
they  are  only  scratches,"  and  as  he  spoke,  Patsy  had 
run  into  the  adjoining  room,  and  returned  almost 
immediately  with  some  of  her  late  father's  clothes. 
"  There,  that  will  do — that's  enough  for  the  present, 
Patsy,"  he  said,  as  he  slipped  a  shirt  over  his  bleeding 
shoulders.  "  I  have  no  time  now  for  ceremony. 
Patsy,  you  or  aunt  must  go  to  the  city  to-day." 

"  Go  to  the  city  !"  they  exclaimed  in  a  breath,  but 


THE  PATRIOT   GIRL.  315 

bercre  they  could  say  more,  he  interrupted  them,  say- 
ing: 

"Ye«,  to  the  city,  and  that  immediately.  Now 
listen  to  me.  I  am  too  weak,  too  exhausted,  to 
attempt  it,  and  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  some  one 
should  go — nay,  must  go." 

"  My  dear  Seth,"  said  Patsy,  smoothing  down  his 
tangled,  maUad  hair,  "  you  are  not  yourself — you  are 
wild ;  wait — rest  a  while  ;  get  some  sleep,  and  then  you 
can  say  what  you  wish,  and  " 

"  Patsy,"  exclaimed  Seth,  rising  from  his  chair  Avith 
a  great  effort,  for  he  \vas  really  almost  exhausted  by 
his  long  immersion  in  the  water,  and  his  subsequent 
journey  through  the  woods,  "  listen  to  me.  The  safety 
of  General  Washington— perhaps  the  fate  of  our  coun- 
try— depends  on  you  01  me  being  in  the  city  to-night. 
I  am  Avilling  to  go,  but  I  know  I  never  could  reach  it 
alive,  and  you  " 

"  Oh,  Seth,  Seth,  what  do  you  mean  ?"  exclaimed 
Patsy,  whose  patriotic  soul  had  been  fired  by  these 
words. 

"  Listen  to  me  a  few  moments,"  he  said,  sinking 
languidly  back  in  his  chair,  for  he  was  too  weak  to 
gtand  longer  ;  "  I  was  taken  prisoner  ten  days  ago  in 
New  York;  I've  been  on  board  the  'Duchess  of 
Gordon '  a  prisoner  until  last  night,  when,  by  God's 
help,  I  escaped.  Now,  Patsy,  even  if  I  was  strong 
enough  to  reach  the  city,  as  a  man  I  might  be  over 


310  MABOAKET  MOXCEIEFFE. 

taken  and  captured  by  some  one,  for  no  one  would 
believe  what  I  have  to  tell.  Will  you  go  to  the 
city  ?» 

"  Anything,  Seth.  I  will  crawl  there  on  my  hands 
and  knees,  if  I  can  serve  the  dear,  good  General 
Washington." 

"  Then,  Patsy,  you  must  go,  if  you  have  to  walk 
every  step  of  the  way.  Now  hearken  to  me,  for  time 
is  precious.  You  must  go  directly  to  Major  Burr," 
and  as  he  uttered  that  name,  Patsy  colored  deeply,  for 
with  true  maidenly  modesty,  she  shrank  from  seeking 
one  toward  whom  she  was  so  peculiarly  situated. 
"  Yes,  Patsy,"  he  continued,  noticing  her  heightened 
color,  "  go  directly  to  Major  Burr,  for  he  got  me  into 
this  infernal  scrape,  and  I  suppose  he  thinks  I  hare 
deserted.  Tell  him  I  was  seized,  bound  and  gagged  at 
Corbie's  on  the  night  he  sent  me  there ;  that  I  have 
been  on  board  the  'Duchess  of  Gordon'  ever  since, 
and  only  escaped  last  night  by  swimming  ashore.  Say 
to  him  that  a  plot  is  on  foot,  which,  if  not  stopped  now, 
will  result  in  ruin  to  our  cause.  The  city  is  full  of 
conspirators ;  I  can't  name  ah1  of  them,  for  I  have  not 
heard  the  names,  but  a  boat  goes  up  almost  every 
night  to  Corbie's  house  from  the  ship.  I  know  that  a 
Captain  Blanchard  is  one  of  them,  and  there  was  said 
something  about  a  woman,  who  gave  them  every  infor- 
mation. Corbie,  to  whose  house  the  major  sent  me, 
and  Forbes,  the  gunsmith,  are  mixed  up  with  it.  Tell 


THE  PATRIOT   GIRL.  517 

nim  that,  as  soon  as  the  British  fleet  comes  in,  it  is 
their  plan  to  sail  up  either  river ;  that  the  Tories  in  the 
city,  and  the  men  whom  they  have  bought  over,  intend 
to  make  an  attack  on  General  Washington's  quarters, 
take  him  prisoner,  blow  up  the  magazines,  and  destroy 
King's  Bridge,  and  that  their  hope  is,  when  Washing- 
ton is  secured,  the  rebels,  as  they  call  us,  hemmed  in 
on  the  island,  will  be  glad  to  come  to  terms  at  once.  I 
have  picked  this  up  on  board  the  ship.  I  know — I 
feel  it  is  true.  Will  you,  Patsy,  make  it  known  to 
him  ?» 

"Will  I,  Seth?  What  a  question  to  ask.  I'll  go 
this  very  hour." 

"  Yes,  Patsy,  delay  now  might  be  fatal  to  the  coun- 
try. Tell  Major  Burr  that  as  soon  as  I  can  stir  I  shall 
be  at  my  post." 

"  Did  you  ever  see  that  young  girl  who  was  staying 
with  us,  Seth  ?"  and  Patsy  colored  as  she  spoke. 

"  I  have  never  seen  her ;  but  I  have  heard  of  her 
almost  every  day.  She  is  quite  a  character  in  the  city, 
and  is  invited  everywhere.  Come,  Patsy,  get  your 
breakfast  and  be  off.  You  will  have  a  long  ride." 

"  I  am  to  have  a  long  walk,  Seth,"  she  replied,  with 
a  quiet  but  meaning  smile ;  and  the  young  soldier 
looked  in  her  face  for  an  explanation,  for  he  knew  they 
owned  a  horse. 

"  Old  grey  was  stolen  a  couple  of  weeks  since ;  but 
no  matter,  I  may  find  some  one  going  to  the  city,  and 


818  MAEGARET  MONCKIKFFE. 

get  a  ride  a  part  of  the  way.  But,  ride  or  walk,  Gei>-> 
ral  Washington  shall  know  what  you  have  told  me 
before  I  sleep  to-night." 

"  God  bless  you,  brave  Patsy !"  said  Seth,  warmly  ; 
"  you  deserve  to  be  a  soldier's  wife,  and  I  hope  you'll 
get  a  good  one  for  a  husband." 

"  Go  along,"  she  said,  coloring  deeply ;  for  she  knew 
he  was  aware  of  her  attachment  to  Major  Burr,  and, 
moving  away,  she  commenced  preparations  for  the 
morning  meaL 

Rest  and  the  generous  liquor  which  he  had  swal- 
lowed, had  already  so  far  restored  Seth,  he  sat  up  and 
joined  in  the  conversation  of  the  family.  Once  or 
twice  he  arose,  and  essayed  to  move  across  the  floor  j 
but  his  limbs  were  so  sore  and  stiffened  by  their  long 
immersion  in  the  water,  and  by  his  tremendous  efforts 
to  force  his  way  through  the  woods,  the  attempt  proved 
futile,  and  he  sunk  back  in  his  seat  with  a  heavy  sigh 
and  groan. 

"  There,  Seth ;  don't  try,"  said  Patsy,  as  she  hurried 
to  and  fro,  preparing  the  frugal  meal ;  "  it  will  only 
keep  you  back,  and  I  know  how  anxious  you  are  to 
return  to  your  post  and  pay  off  the  score  you  owe  the 
Royalists.  Suppose  I  can't  fir  d  Major  Burr,  shall  I  go 
directly  to  General  Washington  ?"  she  asked,  pausing 
in  the  middle  of  her  work,  and  addressing  the  young 
soldier. 

"  Of  course,  Patsy — of  course  ;  the  information  COD 


THE    PATRIOT    GIRL.  319 

eerns  him  directly.  By  the  way,  I  remember  now  1 
heard  the  name  of  a  man  named  Hickey  as  one  of  the 
conspiz-ators.  There  is  a  guardsman  of  that  name,  but 
it  can't  be  him.  I  wonder  who  that  woman  can  be  ?" 
he  said,  half  to  himself,  and  evidently  striving  to  recall 
something  he  had  forgotten.  "  No  matter  ;  don't  for- 
get the  names  I  have  told  you  already." 

"  Never  fear,  Seth,"  replied  Patsy,  her  eye  kindling 
with  pleasure  as  she  spoke,  at  the  thought  of  the  im- 
portant service  it  was  to  be  her  privilege  to  render  to 
the  cause  of  her  country. 

"Come,  let  me  draw  you  up,  Seth,"  she  said,  ap- 
proaching the  soldier ;  but,  to  her  surprise,  he  made  no 
reply,  and,  on  looking  closely  at  him,  she  discovered 
that  his  exhausted  nature  had  succumbed,  and  even 
while  listening  to  her,  sleep  had  overcome  him. 

"  Hush,  mother  !"  she  said,  softly,  placing  one  hand 
on  her  lips,  and  with  the  other  pointing  to  the  sleeping 
youth. 

"  Poor  Seth  !  he  has  had  a  terrible  time  of  it ;  just 
think,  Patsy,  of  his  being  in  the  water  so  long,  and 
then  walking  through  them  woods  after  all  that.  Poor 
fellow  !  how  he  must  have  suffered." 

"  Come,  mother,  sit  down  ;  I  must  be  off  as  soon  as 
possible — let  me  see,"  and  she  turned  to  a  large,  old- 
fashioned  clock,  which  stood  in  one  corner  of  the  kit- 
chen— "  it's  now  half-past  six.  By  smart  walking,  I 
ought  to  be  there  before  twelve.  Perhaps  I  may  get  a 


820  MARGARET    MOXCBIEFFE. 

ride — who  knows  ? — no  matter.  Now,"  she  continued, 
between  the  mouthfuls,  "  don't  be  frightened  if  1  am 
not  at  home  to-night.  If  I  havo  to  walk  all  the  way,  I 
am  sure  I  shan't  be  back  to-day ;  so  be  easy.  Seth 
will  be  with  you.  Now  my  hat,"  and  hastily  swallow- 
ing the  remainder  of  her  cup  of  coffee,  went  to  her 
room,  and  returned  in  a  few  moments  attired  for  her 
journey. 

"  There,  good  bye  mother,  till  I  see  you  again,"  she 
said,  as  the  tears  gathered  in  her  eyes,  and  she  held  up 
her  mouth  for  the  mother's  kiss ;  but  her  mother,  rising 
irom  her  chair,  approached,  and,  placing  a  hand  on 
either  shoulder,  said,  with  an  air  of  solemnity  : 

"May  the  Lord  bless  and  keep  my  dear,  brave 
daughter  on  her  journey  of  duty.  Go,  Patsy,  and  God 
grant  you  a  safe  return."  Then  flinging  herself  on  her 
daughter's  neck,  she  gave  away  to  the  emotions  she 
had  long  struggled  to  keep  down. 

For  a  moment  or  two,  mother  and  daughter  mingled 
their  tears ;  and  at  length,  with  a  long  kiss  of  love, 
Patsy  withdrew  from  her  parent's  embrace,  and,  with 
one  lingering  look,  in  which  her  glance  took  in  every- 
thing in  the  room,  she  boldly  stepped  from  the  door, 
and  started  alone  and  unprotected  on  her  perilous  but 
most  important  mission. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE     PLOT     DISCLOSED. 


.SET  MONCRIEPFE  was  walking  in  the  garden  of 
General  Putnam's  house,  which,  as  has  been  said,  at  that 
period  ran  nearly  down  to  the  water's  edge,  and  which 
was  beautifully  laid  out  with  trees  and  shrubbery 
and  flowers.  It  was  in  full  sight  of  Fort  George,  the 
site  of  the  present  Battery,  and  commanded  also  a  fine 
view  of  the  spot  where  the  periaguas  and  other  boats 
which  were  plying  to  and  from  Paulus  Hook,  landed 
their  passengers. 

It  was  a  little  past  noon,  and  as  a  fresh  breeze  was 
blowing  from  the  southwest,  the  air  was  refreshingly 
cool,  coming  as  it  did  over  such  an  expanse  of  water. 

Margaret  always  chose  the  garden  as  her  resort  when 
she  wished  to  meditate,  and  many  a  brief  but  important 
communication  had  been  made  to  her  over  the  fence 
which  separated  the  garden  from  the  road  which  led  to 
the  ferry-landing,  now  known  as  Battery  Place. 

She  was  walking  in  the  garden,   evidently  in  high 

good  humor  with  herself  and  everybody  else.    Her 

star  was  now  in  the  ascendant  ;  she  loved  with  all  the 

depth  and  intensity  of  her  passionate  nature,  and  was 

u*  «» 


322  MAKGA.KET   MONCKIEFFB. 

beloved  in  return,  ard  if  anything  could  have  emlc.'ired 
her  lover  more  to  her,  it  was  the  fact  that  he  had  for 
her  sake,  joined  the  cause  in  which  every  feeling  of  her 
heart  was  enlisted. 

She  had  rendered  essential  service  to  that  cause,  and 
had  received  her  reward,  not  only  in  the  high  commen- 
dations and  warm  thanks  of  Governor  Try  on,  but  in 
the  commission  which  she  had  been  enabled  to  procure 
for  her  betrothed.  Her  active,  busy  brain  was  at  work 
still,  for  as  long  as  there  was  \vork  to  be  done,  she  must 
keep  in  motion.  Everything  thus  far  had  gone  on 
swimmingly ;  the  plans  of  Governor  Tryon  had  suc- 
ceeded to  his  entire  satisfaction.  He  had  not  only  many 
hundreds  of  devoted  Royalists  in  the  city  ready  to  act 
at  the  proper  moment,  but  many  valuable  acquisitions 
had  been  made  to  their  ranks  from  the  Continental 
troops.  The  mine  was  constructed,  the  fuse  laid,  and 
on  the  signal  from  the  proper  source  it  was  ready  to 
be  lighted,  and  death  and  destruction  scattered  abroad 
by  the  explosion. 

While  meditating  upon  her  possible  future  when  the 
war  should  be  over,  and  she  should  be  united  to  hei 
heart's  master,  surrounded  in  her  own  country  by  all 
the  appliances  of  wealth  and  luxury,  and  blessed  with 
his  companionship,  she  chanced  to  turn  her  eyes  toward 
the  river,  and  perceived  a  periagua  which  plied  regu- 
larly between  the  city  and  Paulus  Hook,  approaching 
the  landing. 


THE  PLOT  DISCLOSED.  323 

She  went  to  the  fence  which  skirted  the  garden,  and 
shaded  by  a  cherry-tree  which  was  near  by,  stood  watch- 
ing its  approach,  and  the  persons  who  were  passengers, 
of  whom  there  seemed  to  be  quite  a  number. 

There  were  formers  with  produce  for  the  city,  some 
soldiers  from  the  breast-works  at  Paulus  Hook,  and 
three  females.  As  they  landed  from  the  boat,  they 
passed  near  the  spot  where  she  was  standing,  one  by 
one,  and  when  nearly  all  were  gone,  she  turned  to  re- 
sume hftr  walking  and  thinking. 

At  that  moment  one  of  the  females  approached  close 
to  the  spot  where  she  was  standing,  and  instantly  Mar- 
garet's  attention  was  attracted  to  her;  for  a  casual 
glance  at  the  dusty,  travel-worn,  flushed  and  heated 
woman,  disclosed  a  familiar  face — that  of  Patsy  Adams, 
who,  somewhat  rested  after  her  long  and  toilsome  walk, 
by  her  sail  across  the  bay,  for  she  had  walked  the  entire 
distance,  was  moving  slowly  along,  ever  and  anon  cast- 
ing glances  at  the  house  occupied  by  General  Putnam. 

"  Patsy,"  exclaimed  Margaret,  as  she  caught  sight  of 
the  well-remembered  face ;  and  Patsy  turned  to  the 
place  whence  the  voice  proceeded.  At  first  she  did 
not  discover  any  one,  and  thinking  that  her  ears  must 
have  deceived  her,  was  turning  away,  when  Margaret, 
in  louder  tones,  repeated  her  name,  and  added :  "  Here, 
Patsy,  it's  Margaret ;  don't  you  see  me '/" 

For  an  instant  Patsy  looked  again  in  the  lirection  of 
the  voice,  and  this  time  she  discovered  Margaret's  face 


324  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

peering  over  the  fence,  and  as  she  approached,  Mar- 
garet addressed  her  in  kind  tones,  saying : 

"  Why,  Patsy,  how  very  hot  and  tired  you  look. 
Where  did  you  come  from  ?" 

"  From  home,  and  on  foot.  But  how  well  you  look, 
Margaret,"  and  she  gazed  with  a  pang  at  the  beauti- 
ful girl,  for  she  had  not  forgotten  that  he  whom  she 
loved,  and  had  breathed  vows  of  love  to  her,  had  been 
under  the  influence  of  such  charms  since  they  had 
parted. 

"  Oh,  I  am  well  enough.  But  what  on  earth  could 
have  induced-  you  to  walk  such  a  distance  on  such  a 
day  ?" 

"  Oh,  that's  a  secret,"  said  Patsy,  with  a  quiet  smile. 

"  I  want  to  see  Major  Burr ;  can  you  tell  me  where 
he  is  now  ?" 

"  Oh,  I  suppose,"  replied  Margaret,  carelessly, 
though  she  understood  the  point  of  Patsy's  question, 
"  he's  in  the  office.  Did  you  come  all  the  way  on  foot 
on  such  a  day  to  see  him,  Patsy  ?"  and  Margaret 
looked  searchingly  at  the  young  girl. 

"I  did,"  was  the  reply,  and  as  she  spoke,  Patsy 
drew  herself  up,  with  an  expression  on  her  countenance 
which  conveyed  to  Margaret  the  well-merited  rebuke 
she  intended.  "  I  have  urgent  business  with  him,  and 
I  must  see  him  immediately." 

"  I  will  show  you  his  office.  Here,  Patsy,  you  can 
come  in  by  this  gate ;"  and,  moving  on  a  few  steps,  she 


THE   PLOT  DISCLOSED.  323 

opened  a  small  gate  which  led  into  the  road,  and 
invited  Patsy  to  enter  the  house  by  that  way. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Miss  Margaret ;  I  am  on  important 
business,  and  don't  see  any  necessity  why  I  should 
enter  the  house  privately." 

"  Oh,  yours  is  public  business,  then,"  said  Margaret, 
with  an  ill-concealed  expression  of  interest. 

"  Whether  public  or  private,  it  is  very  urgent,  and 
I  am  sorry  to  leave  you  so  soon.  I  hope  you  have 
enjoyed  yourself  here." 

"  Oh,  wonderfully,"  she  replied,  writh  a  malicious 
smile.  "  Aaron  and  I  ride  out  almost  every  day,  and 
then  we  have  parties,  and  all  kinds  of  gaieties." 

Margaret  spoke  thus  purposely.  She  suspected 
Patsy's  attachment  for  Major  Burr,  and  her  heightened 
color  and  expression  of  sadness,  as  she  heard  these 
words,  indicating  such  close  intimacy,  confirmed  her 
suspicions.  In  truth,  she  had  cut  Patsy  to  the  heart. 
Her  familiarity  in  calling  him  Aaron,  convinced  Patsy 
that  her  charms  had  already  done  their  work,  and  that 
she  had  won  him  from  her.  But  even  in  that  moment 
of  deep  grief  and  sadness,  she  did  not  forget  her  high 
mission,  and  bowing  her  head,  as  if  to  say  adieu,  but 
in  reality  to  conceal  the  tears  which  gathered  in  her 
eyes,  she  moved  on,  and  Margaret  was  left  to  conjee* 
ture  what  could  be  the  nature  of  that  business  which 
had  induced  a  young  girl  like  Patsy  to  walk  so  great 
a  distance  on  such  a  day. 


326  MARGARET  MONCBIEFFE. 

She  did  not,  however,  pause  long  for  thought,  but 
acting  upon  one  of  her  impulses,  with  which  the  reader 
is  already  acquainted,  she  ran  through  one  of  the  path- 
ways of  the  garden  into  the  house,  and  had  gained  the 
office  where  Major  Burr  was  seated,  long  before 
Patsy  had  turned  the  corner  of  the  road  which  led 
into  Broadway. 

Her  hurried  rap  at  the  door  was  answered  by  him, 
and  as  she  entered,  she  glanced  around  hastily,  and 
was  rejoiced  to  find  he  was  alone.  On  her  entrance, 
Major  Burr  threw  down  the  pen  with  which  he  had 
been  writing  as  she  knocked,  and  rising,  with  an 
expression  of  pleasure  on  his  face,  was  about  to  spring 
forward  with  extended  hands  to  greet  her,  when  she 
placed  her  fingers  on  her  lips,  as  if  cautioning  him  to 
be  silent,  and  ere  he  had  found  time  to  ask  any  ques- 
tions, she  approached  him  and  said,  in  tones  which 
showed  she  was  unusually  moved : 

"  Something  has  gone  wrong,  I  am  afraid.  Patsy 
has  just  crossed  the  river,  and  will  be  here  in  a  few 
moments.  She  has  walked  all  the  way  from  her 
mother's,  and  she  says  she  has  business  of  great  impor- 
tance with  you.  Be  on  your  guard,  Aaron,  and  if 
anything  should  transpire  which  might  demand  action 
on  my  part,  let  me  know  at  once." 

"  What  on  earth  can  this  mean,"  said  the  major,  and 
as  he  spoke  the  color  rose  to  his  cheeks. 

"You  will  find  out  soon   enough.     Only,  Aaron," 


THE    PLOT   DISCLOSED.  327 

and  as  she  spoke,  her  lips  quivered,  and  her  eyes  were 
moistened  by  the  rising  tear,  "  remember." 

"  I  never  can  forget  that  the  dearest  and  loveliest 
of  her  sex  has  said  she  loves  me,  and  will  be  mine." 

"  Thank  you,  Aaron  ;  now  sit  down  again  to  your 
writing.  I  had  better  go ;  it  would  not  look  well  if 
Patsy  saw  me  now,  as  I  know  she  is  here." 

"As  you  choose,  Margaret,"  he  replied,  and  he 
resumed  his  seat,  while  Margaret,  approaching  him, 
bent  over,  and  imprinting  a  kiss  on  his  broad  and  white 
forehead,  stole  quickly  and  silently  away. 

Major  Burr  threw  down  his  pen,  and  leaning  back 
in  his  chair,  mused  and  wondered  what  could  be  the 
purpose  of  Patsy's  visit  under  such  circumstances. 
That  the  matter  which  had  brought  her  there 
was  important,  was  evidenced  by  the  fact  of  her 
having  walked  the  entire  distance  to  communicate 
with  him ;  but  before  he  had  time  to  reach  any 
probable  solution  as  to  the  cause  of  her  visit,  the 
orderly  who  was  on  duty,  entered  and  announced 
that  a  young  woman  desired  to  see  him  on  important 
business. 

"  Let  her  come  in,"  was  the  reply,  as  he  bent  his 
head  to  conceal  the  expression  of  anxiety  which  he  felt 
was  on  his  face,  and  in  another  moment  Patsy  was  in 
the  room,  and  the  door  was  closed  upon  her. 

"  Why,  Patsy  !"  exclaimed  the  young  aid,  rising  ai;d 
springing  forward  with  extended  hand,  "  what  on  earth 


828  M AEG ABET  MOJfCEIEFFB. 

brings  you  here  ?"  and  as  he  spoke,  he  seized  her  hand 
and  led  her  to  a  chair. 

The  warmth  of  his  greeting,  his  apparent  pleasure  at 
seeing  her,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  had  received 
her,  touched  the  feelings  of  the  fond  girl,  who,  for  the 
moment,  forgot  that  such  a  person  as  Margaret  Mon- 
crJeffe  lived,  and  felt  happy  in  her  own  love 

u  Oh,  Aaron — I  beg  pardon — Major  Burr." 

"  Certainly.  Major,  if  you  please,"  he  said,  laugh, 
ing,  as  he  looked  at  her  flushed  cheeks  and  travel- 
stained  clothes ;  "  had  you  not  better  make  it  Colonel  ?" 

"I  wish  I  could  make  you  greater  than  that, 
major." 

"  Come,  come,  Patsy,  don't  be  silly.  Call  me  what 
you  choose ;  but  answer  my  question  :  What  on  earth 
brings  you  here  ?" 

"  Cousin  Seth  " But  she  had  no  time  to  finish  Ler 

sentence  ;  for  as  he  heard  these  words,  Major  Burr  felt 
the  hot  blood  crimsoning  his  cheek,  and  he  hastily  in- 
terrupted her,  saying  :  "  Is  Seth  alive  ?" 

"  Alive,  Aaron  !"  replied  Patsy,  half  forgetting  her- 
self, and  repeating  the  name  so  dear  to  her.  "  Yes — 
alive,  Aaron,  and  it  is  at  his  request  I  am  here.  He 
desired  me  to  say — let  me  see — I  am  so  worried  with 
the  excitement,  and  so  wearied  by  my  journey,  I  am 
afraid  almost  I  shall  forget  my  message.  Oh,  no ! — I 
remember  now.  He  bade  me  seek  you,  and  say  that 
he  was  seized  and  made  a  prisoner  at  Corbie's — I  think 


THE   PLOT   DISCLOSED.  820 

that  was  the  name — the  night  you  PA*  t  him  there ; 
that  he  was  sent  on  board  the  'Ducbiss  of  Gordon,' 
where  he  has  been  ever  since  until  yesterday,  when  he 
managed  to  escape.  Oh,  Aaron,  you  ahould  have  seen 
him,  all  cut  and  scratched  and  bleedirg ;  why,  he  was 
so  exhausted  when  he  got  to  our  hoi>se,  he  fell  asleep 
while  we  were  talking  to  him.  He  \ras  too  feeble  to 
come  to  the  city,  so  I  came  in  his  plac**." 

"I  knew  Seth  was  true  and  honest,"  said  Major 
Burr,  who,  only  in  Margaret's  presmce,  forgot  the 
high  duty  he  owed  to  his  country. 

"  Who  ever  doubted  him  ?"  exclain^d  Patsy. 

"  No  matter,  Patsy,  go  on.  What  message  did  he 
send  ?»» 

"  He  bade  me  say  the  city  is  ful1  of  conspirators ; 
that  a  plot  has  been  formed  by  Gove^or  Try  on,  with 
the  aid  of  Mayor  Matthews,  as  soon  at  the  British  fleet 
comes  in,  to  go  up  both  rivers  at  once  «  to  break  down 
King's  Bridge  ;  to  blow  up  the  magazines,  and  to  seize 
the  commander-in-chief  and  make  him  *  prisoner !" 

"  In  heaven's  name,  are  you  crazy,  Pa'sy  ?" 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  Aaron  ;  I  would  n<*  have  walked 
sixteen  miles  on  a  crazy  man's  errand.  Se*Ji  has  picked 
up  his  information  on  board  the  ship.  Th«*~e  is  a  Cap- 
tain Blanchard,  a  man  named  Hickey,  and  scwe  woman 
in  the  plot,  besides  the  men  Corbie  and  Fc-bes,  who 
had  him  bound  and  sent  on  board  the  vessel.  As  soon 
as  the  fleet  arrives,  the  plan  is  to  be  carried  out •*' 


830  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

Major  Burr  listened  to  these  disclosures  with  feelingi 
which  can  be  better  imagined  than  described.  Twice 
he  had  received  an  intimation  that  the  time  for  action 
might  soon  arrive ;  but  he  had  never  dreamed  of  such 
a  plot  as  was  here  developed,  and  he  was  committed  to 
aid  in  carrying  it  to  consummation.  His  soul  shrank 
from  it,  and  as  he  thought  for  an  instant  upon  the  ter- 
rible position  into  which  he  had  been  not  unwillingly, 
but  irresistibly  drawn  by  his  passion  for  Margaret,  the 
blood  rushed  to  his  heart  with  such  violence,  that  for 
an  instant  it  ceased  to  beat,  and  he  grew  pale  as 
marble. 

Patsy  noticed  his  emotion,  and  attributing  it  to  his 
horror  at  hearing  of  such  an  infamous  plot  against  the 
liberties  of  the  country  for  which  she  would  have 
gladly  laid  down  her  life,  exclaimed  :  "  It  is  horrible,  is 
it  not,  Aaron  ?" 

Her  words  recalled  his  scattered  senses,  and  he  stam- 
mered out  some  reply. 

"  Who  can  that  woman  be,  Aaron  ?  Seth  was  so 
earnest  when  he  spoke  about  the  woman." 

"  How  did  Seth  manage  to  escape  ?" 

"  Really,  Aaron,  I  never  asked  him,  we  were  so  glad 
to  see  him,  and  he  was  so  anxious  to  have  this  known 
to  you,  we,  never  thought  a  word  about  that.  Seth 
loves  his  country  too  well  to  think  of  himself,  and  so 
we  all  do.  But  who  is  that  woman  ?" 

"  Oh,  never  fear  but  we'll  find  her  out,"  said  the 


THE  PLOT  DISCLOSED.  331 

major,  who  at  the  mention  of  the  word,  had  felt  the 
hot  blood  mount  to  his  cheeks,  for  he  well  knew  who 
that  woman  was,  and  the  consequences  of  her  detec- 
tion flashed  across  his  mind.  "  If  she  is  in  New  York, 
we  will  find  her  out.  Captain  Blanchard,  you  say,"  and 
he  commenced  writing. 

"  A  man  named  Hickey,  and  a  woman ;  yea,  and. 
Mayor  Matthews,"  she  added:  "he  manages  everything, 
Seth  said,  as  far  as  he  could  learn ;"  and  Major  Burr 
added  the  mayor's  name  to  his  list. 

"  Don't  forget  the  men  who  had  poor  Seth  gagged 
and  bound  and  sent  on  board  the  ship — Corbie  and 
Forbes." 

"  I  will  see  General  Putnam  at  once,  and  communi- 
cate this  to  him.  Patsy,  you  have  rendered  important 
service  to  General  Washington  and  the  country,  and  it 
will  not  be  forgotten.  You  are  a  noble  girl,"  he  said, 
warmly,  turning  to  her  and  grasping  both  her  hands, 
"  and  deserve  " 

"  No  matter  what  I  deserve,  major,"  she  said,  releas- 
ing her  hands  and  turning  to  leave  the  room,  an  ex- 
pression of  sadness  crossing  her  countenance,  for  he 
had  not  spoken  one  word,  as  yet,  which  reached  her 
heart. 

"  No,  Patsy,  stay  here  ;  the  family  will  give  you  re- 
freshments, and  you  need  rest." 

"  Oh,  never  mind,  major,  I  have  an  aunt  in  the  city, 
in  Crown  street ;  I  will  go  there  and  stay  until  to-mor- 


832  MAKGAEET   MOXCKIEFFE. 

row,  when  I  will  return  home.  Shall  I  say  anything  to 
Seth?" 

"  Yes ;  say  that  I  knew  and  felt  that  he  would  prove 
true  and  honest,  and  I  am  proud  of  him ;  and  of  you, 
too,"  he  added,  looking  earnestly  at  her,  but  not  with 
such  an  expression  of  affection  as  she  had  been  wont 
to  receive  from  him. 

"  Thank  you,  Aaron ;  I  must  go  now,"  she  said,  half 
mournfully;  "you  will  find  me  at  Aunt  Crosby's  in 
Crown  street.  You  will  see  General  Washington  ?" 

"  Immediately,"  he  replied^  earnestly ;  for  in  the 
presence  of  the  pure,  true-hearted,  patriotic  girl,  he 
felt  his  high  enthusiasm  for  his  country  rekindled,  and 
for  an  instant  Margaret  was  forgotten ;  though  it  was 
but  for  an  instant,  for  almost  ere  he  had  ceased  speak- 
ing, her  image  rose  before  him,  radiant  in  glorious 
beauty,  her  brown  eyes  beaming  upon  him  with  love 
and  passion,  and  with  a  kind,  friendly  farewell,  but  not 
one  word  of  heartfelt  greeting,  he  suffered  Patsy  to 
leave  the  office. 

As  soon  as  he  was  alone,  he  threw  himself  into  a 
chair,  and  leaning  his  head  upon  the  table,  gave  way  to 
the  thoughts  which  this  interview  had  called  up,  and 
to  conjectures  as  to  the  consequences  which  it  must  en- 
tail on  himself,  if  he  permitted  still  the  sway  which 
Margaret  had  obtained  over  him  and  his  actions.  His 
reflections,  whatever  they  were,  were  interrupted  by  a 
gentle  pressure  on  the  shoulder,  and  looking  up,  he  saw 


THE  PLOT  DISCLOSED.  893 

Margaret  before  him,  her  eyes  fixed  on  him  with  an 
expression  of  the  most  intense  anxiety.  She  had 
watched  until  she  saw  Patsy  leave  the  house,  and  hur- 
ried down  to  the  office  to  learn  the  nature  of  the  im- 
portant business  which  had  induced  a  young  girl  to 
walk  alone  and  unprotected,  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles, 
in  order  to  communicate  it  to  him. 

Major  Burr  raised  his  head  languidly  at  first,  for  he 
was  fairly  bowed  down  by  the  weight  of  his  thoughts, 
and  as  he  met  the  eyes  of  her  for  whom  he  had  prom- 
ised to  barter  honor,  name,  and  all  a  man  could  hold 
dear,  fixed  on  him,  his  whole  nature  seemed  on  the  mo- 
ment changed  ;  for  there  was  a  magic  in  her  presence, 
a  fascination  in  her  look,  which  subdued  him,  and  ren- 
dered him  powerless. 

For  an  instant  he  gazed  in  her  lustrous  eyes  ;  he  read 
there  the  deep  love  she  had  avowed  for  him  j  he  read 
there  the  only  happiness  he  coveted  on  earth,  and  sink, 
ing  his  head  upon  the  table,  he  gave  way  to  the  feelings 
which  he  could  not  repress ;  and  though  he  shed  no  tear, 
his  heart  was  nearly  bursting  with  the  conflict  of  emo- 
tions which  Patsy's  communication  and  Margaret's  pres 
once  had  aroused. 


CHAPTER  XXXT. 

THE  TEMPTRESS   TRIES   HER   ARTS   AGAIW. 

""WHAT  does  all  this  mean?"  asked  Margaret, 
approaching  the  table  at  which  he  was  seated,  and 
laying  her  hand  gently  on  the  young  aid's  shoulder. 
4  What  has  happened  ?" 

Major  Burr  raised  his  head  as  he  heard  the  well- 
known  and  ever  welcome  tones,  and  looked  at  the  fair 
speaker  with  a  sad,  mournful  expression.  His  counte- 
nance wore  a  deathly  pallor ;  his  Hps  were  quivering 
with  emotion,  and  his  whole  frame  seemed  convulsed 
with  some  terrible  excitement,  such  as  she  had  never 
before  witnessed  in  him.  He  shook  his  head  sorrow- 
fully, and  pointed  to  the  slip  of  paper  lying  before  him, 
and  on  which  he  had  made  a  memorandum  of  the 
information  communicated  to  him  by  Patsy. 

Margaret  glanced  over  the  writing,  and  as  she 
observed  the  names  of  Blanchard,  Matthews,  Hickey, 
and  the  other  well-known  Royalists,  intuitively  she 
divined  the  purpose  of  Patsy's  visit,  and  judged  rightly 
that  her  business  was,  as  she  had  said,  of  the  utmost 
importance.  As  the  last  words  on  the  memorandum 


THE  TEMPTEESS  TRIES   HEE   AETS   AGAIN.  335 

taught  her  eye,  in  which  he  had  noted  down  the  fact 
that  there  was  "  a  woman  "  connected  with  the  matter," 
whatever  it  might  be,  her  own  countenance  paled,  and 
she  bit  her  lip  to  repress  the  exclamation  she  was 
about  to  utter,  and  which  might  have  betrayed  the 
emotion  she  did  not  care  to  acknowledge  even  to 
Major  Burr. 

"  Well,"  she  said,  with  well-assumed  calmness,  "  I 
do  not  see  even  now  what  it  means.  Am  I  to  infer 
from  that,"  and  she  pointed  to  the  paper,  "  that  some 
one  has  betrayed  us  ?  Tell  me  all,  Aaron,  and  you 
will  see,  if  occasion  should  present,  how  well  prepared 
I  am  to  act,  and  how  much  a  girl  can  accomplish,  when 
her  heart  is  interested." 

"  Simply  this,  Margaret,"  said  Major  Burr,  speaking 
in  low,  deep,  earnest  tones  ;  "  young  Adams,  as  I  pre- 
dicted he  would,  has  proved  true  to  his  duty.  He 
was  seized  at  Corbie's  on  the  night  he  went  there  by 
my  orders,  and  was  forcibly  taken  on  board  the 
Duchess  of  Gordon.  From  what  he  heard  at  Cor- 
bie's, and  from  what  he  managed  to  learn  during  his 
confinement  on  board  the  ship,  he  has  gathered  enough 
to  satisfy  me  that  a  deep-laid  plot  has  been  in  progress 
for  some  time.  You,  of  course,  know  its  purpose  ;  but 
until  communicated  to  me  by  Patsy,  I  never  dreamed 
of  such  a  thing.  It  passes  my  comprehension  how,  in 
the  conduct  of  civilized  warfare,  such  an  atrocious 
scheme  should  have  been  conceived." 


836  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

"  It  was  not  necessary  that  you  should  know, 
Aaron,"  said  Margaret,  laying  her  hand  upon  his  arm, 
and  looking  earnestly  at  him.  "  I  only  asked  that  you 
would  promise  to  act  with  us  when  the  proper  time 
should  arrive  for  action,  and  that  promise  you  gave  me." 

"  Seth  has,  somehow,  found  out  those  names,"  and 
he  nodded  to  the  paper,  "  and  having  escaped  from  tho 
ship  by  swimming  ashore,  made  his  way  to  his  aunt's, 
where  I  first  saw  you,  whence  he  dispatched  Patsy  to 
communicate  the  information  which  he  had  gathered 
to  me,  for  he  was  too  much  enfeebled,  by  his  efforts  to 
escape,  to  come  himself.  That  Patsy  is  a  noble,  glori- 
ous girl,"  and  as  he  spoke,  Margaret  fastened  her 
eyes  on  him  with  a  singular  expression,  but  she 
only  said : 

"It  was  fortunate  she  came  to  you  first.  If  she  had 
gone  directly  to  head-quarters — ugh !  I  dread  to  think 
of  it,"  and  she  fairly  shuddered.  "  Now  what  does  he 
mean  by  '  a  woman  ?'  " 

"  He  did  not  know  himself— at  least  so  Patsy  said. 
He  had  only  heard  that  some  woman  was  concerned 
in  the  plot,  for  he  heard  that  mentioned  as  well  at  Cor- 
bie's  as  on  board  the  ship." 

"  It  is  impossible  that  I  should  be  suspected,  for  my 
name  has  never  been  mentioned  in  the  city,  save  to 
the  Captains  Blanchard  and  Corbie,  and  I  am  sure 
Governor  Tryon  would  never  suffer  my  name  to  pasn 
his  lips,  circumstanced  as  I  am  at  present." 


THE  TEMPTRESS   TKIES   HER   ARTS   AGAIN'.  837 

"  It  was  evidently  meant  for  you,  Margaret.  Now 
what  do  you  propose  to  do  ?" 

"  Let  me  ask,  rather,  what  do  you  now  propose  ?" 

"  To  make  this  known  to  the  commander-in-chief  at 
once.  That,  of  course,  is  my  first  duty,  the  more 
especially  after  all  the  trouble  dear  Patsy  took  to  make 
it  known  to  me." 

"  Of  course ;  and  what  then  ?" 

"  1  hardly  know  how  to  act." 

"It  is  scarcely  probable  that  the  general  will  be 
found  now  at  his  quarters,  at  this  hour  of  the  day." 

"  I  know  that  he  has  gone  to  Long  Island  to  ex- 
amine the  progress  of  the  works  there." 

"  And  will  he  return  before  night  ?" 

"I  scarcely  think  he  will." 

"And  General  Putnam?" 

"  Oh,  he  will  laugh  at  it,  even  if  I  make  it  known  to 
him.  He,  too,  is  absent,  riding  about  overlooking  the 
works,  and  will  not  be  at  home  for  some  hours." 

"  So  much  the  better ;  those  hours  are  infinitely  pre- 
cious to  us.  Now,  Aaron,  you  shall  see  how  I  will 
act.  But  before  I  say  one  word,  need  I  ask  if  you  are 
prepared  to  act  with  me?"  and  she  looked  at  him 
with  a  mournful,  tender  expression,  but  one  mingled 
with  intense  interest,  as  if  she  almost  dreaded  to  hear 
bis  reply. 

"  I  will  go  to  the  end  of  the  world  with  you,  Mar- 
garet," exclaimed  the  major,  in  whom  the  deep  lova 
15 


838  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

he  bore  for  her  had  resumed  its  full  sway,  and  con- 
quered every  other  sentiment,  as  Avas  ever  the  case 
when  in  her  presence,  for  she  had  cast  a  spell  over  him 
from  which  he  could  not  release  himself.  "  I  will  be 
yours  and  yours  only,  in  life  or  death." 

"  Life  and  happiness,  Aaron,"  she  exclaimed,  her  face 
lighted  by  love  and  enthusiasm.  "  Long  life  and  bound- 
less happiness,  my  own  dear  Aaron,"  she  repeated,  as 
she  threw  herself  into  his  arms ;  and  straining  her  to 
his  heart,  he  showered  kisses  upon  her  upturned  lips 
and  cheeks,  and  eyes. 

"  There,  there,"  and  she  rose  from  his  embrace;  "come 
what  will,  I  shall  be  happy  so  long  as  I  possess  you  and 
yoxir  love.  You  say  you  love  me ;  I  know  you  do,  and 
I  ask  no  greater  happiness  on  earth.  Now,  Aaron,  go 
on  with  your  official  duties  as  if  nothing  had  occurred. 
At  four  o'clock  I  will  return  and  see  you  again,  and 
meantime  I  will  have  every  necessary  arrangement 
made  to  meet  the  emergency  which  has  arisen.  You 
are  sure  General  Washington  is  on  the  island  ?"  she 
asked,  with  an  expression  of  anxiety. 

"  I  was  so  informed  by  Major  Gibbs,  who  accompa- 
nied him  to  the  ferry.  But  what  do  you  propose  to  do, 
Margaret  ?"  and  Major  Burr  looked  at  her  with  a 
strange  expression  of  mingled  curiosity  and  interest. 

"  Fly  this  very  night.  A  few  hours  of  rowing  will 
place  us  in  safety  and  beyond  the  possible  reach  of  pur. 
suit,  and  then  Colonel  Burr  shall  assume  the  rank  and 


THE  TEMPTRESS   TRIES   HEK   ARTS   AGAIN.          839 

station  he  has  so  nobly  earned  and  which  he  is  so  fitted 
to  adorn  ;  and  as  she  spoke,  she  drew  herself  to  her  full 
height,  as  if  in  thus  saluting  him,  she  had  added  the 
dignity  of  the  title  to  herself. 

"  Anywhere,  Margaret,  so  I  am  with  you,"  was  the 
enthusiastic  reply. 

"  I  must  go,  then,  and  make  my  preparations.  I  told 
you  before  you  would  find  me  ready  for  any  emergency, 
and  you  will  soon  learn  that  I  spoke  the  truth.  This 
night,  before  midnight,  we  will  be  in  safety  on  board 
the  governor's  ship,  and  then  let  the  worst  come  to 
the  worst ;  you  shall  be  saved,  though  all  else  perish," 
and  permitting  another  embrace,  she  left  the  apartment, 
and  once  more  he  was  alone. 

No,  not  alone  ;  for  his  thoughts  occupied  him  so  en- 
tirely, he  found  it  impossible  to  transact  any  of  his  offi- 
cial business ;  so  thrusting  aside  his  papers,  he  arose, 
and  paced  the  room,  abstractedly.  The  hour  had  ar- 
rived when  he  was  called  upon  to  sacrifice  honor,  name 
and  reputation;  to  lose  his  very  nationality,  and  to 
bring  upon  his  name  the  scorn  and  detestation,  not 
alone  of  his  countrymen,  but  of  all  honorable  men. 
He  saw  before  him,  even  at  his  feet,  the  deep,  dark 
abyss  of  crime  into  which  he  was  about  to  plunge,  and 
for  the  moment  shrunk  back  aghast  at  the  spectacle 
thus  presented  to  him ;  but  through  the  darkness,  and 
gloom  and  despair  of  that  void,  there  beamed  a  bright 
and  shining  light—  the  eyes  of  Margaret  lighted  with 


840  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

love ;  Margaret's  form  of  matchless  grace,  clasped  in 
his  arms,  and  all  his  own  ;  Margaret's  glowing  face 
pillowed  on  his  bosom,  her  snowy  arms  clasping  his 
neck,  his  lips  glued  to  her  own  in  the  long,  long  kiss  of 
youth  and  love — and  he  gazed,  and  gazed,  till  all  else 
faded  from  his  view,  and  involuntarily  he  exclaimed, 
half  aloud :  "  Margaret,  dear  Margaret,  you  at  any 
sacrifice ;"  and  as  he  spoke,  his  face  lighted  up  with  an 
expression  which  seemed  the  reflection  of  her  own,  as 
he  had  caught  it  in  his  vision. 

A  few  minutes  more  and  he  had  resumed  his  compo- 
sure. Calmly  he  proceeded  to  open,  examine,  and 
note  the  contents  of  the  dispatches  before  him ;  and 
this  done,  he  folded  carefully  the  minutes  he  had  made 
of  Patsy's  disclosures,  which  he  placed  in  the  breast 
pocket  of  his  coat,  and  taking  his  hat,  left  the  apart- 
ment, giving  directions  to  the  orderly  on  duty  to  say 
that  he  would  not  return  before  three  o'clock. 

He  passed  leisurely  up  Broadway,  and  was  glad  when 
he  found  himself  accosted  by  some  officers  off  duty,  for 
their  conversation  seemed  to  divert  his  thoughts  from 
himself.  He  cared  only  to  pass  the  time  till  it  was  ne- 
cessary for  him  to  return  to  his  quarters  ;  for  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  as  to  the  course  he  intended  to  pursue, 
and  nothing  doubted  that  Margaret,  through  means  of 
those  friends  with  whom  she  was  in  constant  intercourse, 
would  arrange  for  her  flight.  He  placed  implicit  reli« 
ance  on  her  word  that  his  name  had  never  been  men* 


THE   TEMPTRESS   TRIES   HER   ARTS   AGAIN.  341 

tioned  in  connection  with  her,  so  far  as  she  was  impli- 
cated in  the  disclosures  made  by  Seth  Adams,  and 
therefore  felt  perfectly  at  ease  as  to  himself.  He  had 
thoroughly  determined  to  go  with  Margaret  under 
any  and  every  circumstance,  and  to  that  his  mind  was 
now,  since  their  last  interview,  irrevocably  made  up,  as 
he  then  thought. 

He  passed  the  time  in  pleasant  conversation,  joined 
in  the  gaiety  and  sallies  of  his  friends ;  nay,  he  even 
listened  with  unchanging  countenance  when  Margaret's 
name  was  mentioned,  coupled  with  highest  commenda- 
tions and  flattery,  no  one  of  his  companions  dreaming 
for  an  instant  that  their  listener  cherished  any  special 
interest  for  her. 

In  this  manner  he  continued  to  while  away  the  time 
till  the  clock  on  Trinity  Church  sounded  the  hour  of 
three,  when  he  bade  adieu  to  his  friends,  pleading  an 
engagement  at  that  hour,  and  turned  down  Broadway 
toward  General  Putnam's  residence,  moving  along  with 
as  much  nonchalance  and  calmness  of  manner  as  if  he 
had  not  in  his  pocket  the  possible  fate  of  the  nation 
and  its  honored  champion. 

He  reached  his  own  quarters  shortly  after  the  hour 
he  had  designated  for  his  return,  and  in  answer  to  the 
question  he  had  put  to  the  orderly,  if  any  one  had  been 
there  for  the  general,  was  informed  that  only  the  same 
young  woman  who  had  been  there  before,  had  called 


MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

;  but  he  could  not  say  whether  she  had  gone 
away  nor  not. 

This  announcemertt  rather  disturbed  the  major-s 
equanimity  for  a  moment ;  but  for  a  moment  only. 
His  reliance  on  Margaret  was  implicit.  He  knew  that 
General  Washington  was  out  of  the  city,  and  therefore 
Patsy  could  not  have  seen  him,  and  he  entered  his 
office  with  as  much  unconcern  as  he  had  left  it. 

He  was  surprised  to  find  Patsy  seated  there,  await- 
ing his  return,  and  on  this  occasion  he  greeted  her  with 
more  than  his  usual  warmth.  In  this,  perhaps,  he  was 
actuated  by  the  consciousness  that  Margaret  was  not  in 
the  house ;  perhaps  by  the  remembrance  of  the  past,  for 
that  Patsy  loved  him,  he  had  abundant  reason  to  know. 

He  therefore  hastened  up  to  her  with  extended  hand, 
and,  assuming  an  expression  of  pleasure  which  was  but 
partially  felt,  he  offered  to  salute  her ;  but  she  repelled 
him,  not  coldly,  but  with  a  dignity  and  grace  of  man- 
ner which  fairly  overawed  him  ;  for  it  showed  that  she 
had  read  him. 

"  Well,  Patsy,"  he  said,  seating  himself  with  an  air 
of  apparent  nonchalance^  "  this  is  the  first  time  you 
ever  refused  me  a  kiss.  Who  has  won  you  from  me  ?" 

He  spoke  in  a  tone  of  half  serious  gallantry,  which 
cut  the  young  girl  to  the  quick,  and  her  only  reply  was 
a  look  which  sent  the  hot  blood  mounting  to  his  checks, 
for  he  interpreted  it  rightly. 


THE  TEMPTRESS  TR/ES   HER  ARTS   AGAIN.  343 

Well  knowing  that  a  further  continuance  of  this  con- 
rersation  would  only  insure  defeat  to  himself,  he  said, 
assuming  an  official  air:  "Well,  Patsy,  what  now? 
What  has  happened  ?" 

"  Nothing,  Major  Burr,  only  I  find  a  chance  of  riding 
home  to-night ;  so  I  thought  I  would  stop  and  ask  if 
you  had  seen  General  Washington  yet  ?" 

"  He  is  over  on  Long  Island,  Patsy,  examining  the 
works,  but  will  be  home  about  six  o'clock.  I  shall  see 
him  the  moment  he  returns,  and  communicate  to  him 
the  important  information  you  have  brought,  and  I  shall 
not  forget  to  tell  him  to  whom  the  whole  country  is  so 
deeply  indebted." 

"  Thank  you,  major.  I  am  sure  you  are  as  deeply 
interested  as  I  am  in  the  success  of  our  glorious  cause, 
and  I  am  happy  that  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  find 
you,  since  he  is  away ;  for  the  delay  of  a  single  day 
might  lead  to  disastrous  results.  Major  Burr,  will  you 
pardon  me  if  I  say  something  that  does  not  properly 
concern  me  ?"  Patsy  continued,  hesitating,  and  a  slight 
blush  tinging  her  cheek. 

"  You  cannot  say  anything,  Patsy,  requiring  pardon 
from  me  or  any  one  else.  I  hope  it  is  something  in 
which  I  may  serve  you." 

"  I  took  the  liberty  onoe  of  cautioning  you  against 
JSLhs  Moncrieffe.  Pardon  me,  major,"  she  said,  seeing 
ttat  he  was  about  to  interrupt  her,  "  not  on  my  own 
account,  but  for  my  country's  sake ;  and  as  I  know 


844  MARGARET   MONCKIEFFZ. 

that  you  are  as  warmly  devoted  to  its  interests  as  my. 
self;  I  say  now,  I  believe  she  is  the  woman  to  whom 
Seth  alludes.  If  I  had  seen  General  Washington,  I 
should  have  told  him  so  myself.  You  know  best  whe- 
ther you  have  seen  anything  to  justify  the  suspicion  of 
which  I  cannot  divest  myself." 

"  Indeed,  Patsy,'*  said  the  young  officer,  coloring  to 
the  very  temples,  "  I  think  you  are  entirely  mistaken." 

"  Of  course,  I  am  aware  that  you  think  so,"  and  she 
spoke  with  an  emphasis  whose  meaning  he  could  not 
misinterpret.  "  But,"  she  continued,  "  Seth  bade  me 
see  you.  He,  as  well  as  myself,  knows  your  devotion 
to  your  country,  and  God  grant  that  my  humble  ser- 
vices may  " 

"  They  will  be  appreciated,  dear  Patsy,"  exclaimed 
Major  Burr,  interrupting  her,  and  anticipating,  as  he 
thought,  her  words ;  but  she  checked  him,  saying : 

"You  misunderstand  me,  major.  I  was  going  to 
eay,  I  hoped  my  humble  services  would  prove  of  some 
value  to  my  country  and  to  our  beloved  general. 
Good  day,  major,"  and  she  moved  toward  the  door, 
with  a  face  as  pale  as  marble  and  eyes  moistened  with 
tears ;  for  the  bitter  disappointment  she  had  expe- 
rienced on  her  first  meeting  with  him  to  whom  her 
heart  was  given,  and  who  had  sought  her  love — the 
certainty  that  Margaret  had  won  his  heart  from  her— 
had  struck  a  blow  to  her  very  soul,  from  which  she  fek 
§he  could  never  recover. 


THE  TEMPTRESS  TRIES   HER   ARTS   AGAIX.  345 

"  Patsy — dear  Patsy  !"  exclaimed  the  major,  spring* 
ing  forward  ;  but  again  he  met  that  look,  and  recoiled 
from  it  much  further  than  he  would  have  done  from  a 
frowning  battery.  In  another  moment  he  was  alone 
with  his  own  thoughts,  and  Patsy,  brushing  away  the 
tears  which  had  gathered  in  her  eyes,  and  choking 
down  the  rising  sob,  left  the  house  and  proceeded  to 
the  ferry-boat.  As  she  entered  it,  she  gave  one  linger- 
ing look  at  the  house,  which  contained  all  she  held 
dear  on  earth,  then,  with  a  smothered  sigh,  seated  her 
self  in  the  stern-sheets,  and  during  the  entire  passage 
dared  not  trust  herself  with  another  look. 


CHAPTER 

THE    KOTALISTS    IN    DANGER. 

As  may  be  supposed,  the  reflections  of  Major  Burr 
after  the  departure  of  Patsy,  were  not  of  the  most 
pleasant  character.  He  felt  keenly  the  rebukes  con- 
veyed  by  her  words,  though,  of  course,  none  were 
intended  by  her,  as  she  could  not  possibly  be  cognizant 
of  his  contemplated  treason ;  and  each  time  that  she 
had  alluded  to  his  love  for  and  devotion  to  his  country, 
a  pang  shot  through  his  heart ;  for  he  could  not  but 
reflect  that  he  had  consented  to  array  himself  with  its 
enemies. 

But  his  mad,  blind,  passionate  love  for  Margaret  had 
swallowed  up  every  other  feeling,  and  perhaps,  there 
may  be  some  readers  who  may  find  a  partial  excuse  for 
him  in  his  youth,  his  inexperience,  and  the  invincible 
power  of  the  little  god,  who,  from  the  days  of  Adam 
and  Eve,  has  ruled  the  world ;  for,  as  Pope  has  most 
truly  said  of  love — 

"  Kings  he  makes  subjects,  and  meaner  subjects  kings." 
He  was  engaged  in  the  avocations  of  his  oflice,  and 


THE   ROYALISTS    IN   DANGEK.  347 

pursuing  them  with  his  usual  coolness,  method,  zui3 
system,  when  the  door  of  his  office  was  abruptly 
opened,  and  General  Putnam,  flushed,  and  evidently 
somewhat  out  of  temper,  entered.  The  general  had 
been  around  the  city,  examining  the  progress  of  the 
various  works  for  its  defence,  and  had  found  great 
cause  of  complaint  at  the  tardiness  of  the  men  at  work 
upon  them.  Then,  again,  he  had  been  called  upon 
several  times  during  the  day  to  settle  some  sectional 
quarrels  ;  for  even  with  the  danger  of  invasion  threat- 
ening them,  the  most  bitter  sectional  feeling  prevailed 
throughout  the  city — the  southern  troops,  who  were 
generally  well  equipped,  making  it  a  point  to  decry  the 
hardy  sons  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  the  more 
northern  colonists,  who  presented  a  most  motley 
array  indeed,  scarcely  any  two  being  armed  or  uni- 
formed alike.  In  fact,  he  was  generally  out  of  humor, 
and,  throwing  his  hat  upon  the  sofa  as  he  entered,  he 
exclaimed  : 

"  I  wish  to  God  some  of  these  turbulent,  quarrel- 
some fellows  would  leave  the  city.  They  seem  to  think 
that  its  safety  depends  only  on  them.  What  is  going 
on  now,  major  ?"  and  as  he  spoke,  he  seated  himself, 
and  treated  his  nose  to  a  pinch  of  snuff. 

"  Only  a  small  conspiracy,  general,"  was  the  reply 
of  Major  Burr,  uttered  as  composedly  as  though  he 
had  no  concern  in  it. 

"  Fiddle  de  dee! — I  have  heard  of  nothing  but  con- 


348  MARGARET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

Bpiracies  since  I  have  been  quartered  here.  What  ne^f 
one  is  this  now  ?"  he  asked,  impatiently. 

"  Why,  this  looks  as  if  it  had  some  foundation  in 
fact.  You  remember  Seth  Adams,  whom  I  sent  to 
Corbie's,  general  ?" 

"Yes,  the  confounded  deserter!  I  wish  I  could 
catch  him." 

"  He  will  not  give  you  the  trouble  to  catch  him,  and 
I  am  sure  you  won't  hang  him." 

"The  d — 1  I  won't.  Let  me  see  him  once.  But 
what  about  him?" 

"  You  remember  I  pledged  my  honor  for  his  truth 
and  fidelity." 

"  And  he  has  deceived  you." 

"  Not  at  all ;  on  the  contrary,  he  has  rendered  most 
important  services.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  sent 
on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  and  managed  to 
effect  his  escape  only  last  night  by  swimming  ashore  on 
the  Jersey  side.  While  on  board  the  ship  he  picked 
up  information  concerning  a  plot,  which,  if  there  be 
any  truth  in  it  at  all,  has  been  brewing  for  some  time  be- 
tween Governor  Tryon  and  the  Royalists  in  the  city. 
His  information  is  not  very  full,  but  of  the  very  highest 
importance,  and  certainly  deserves  an  examination." 

"  And  how  did  it  reach  you,  major  ?" 

"  Seth  was  too  weak  and  too  much  exhausted  to 
come  to  the  city,  so  he  sent  his  cousin,  a  young  girl, 
the  daughter  of  the  old  lady  where  I  Tound  Miss  Mo« 


THE   ROYALISTS   IN   DANGEB.  349 

crieffe,  and  she  has  walked  to-day  all  the  way  from 
Elizabeth  to  make  it  known  to  me." 

"  And  what  does  it  all  amount  to  ?" 

"  Simply  this,  general,"  and  the  major  drew  from  his 
pocket  the  memorandum  he  had  made  of  Patsy's  dis- 
closures. "  He  states  that  he  heard  there  was  a  plot  on 
foot  in  which  many  of  the  Royalists  of  the  city  were 
engaged,  to  blow  up  the  magazines,  destroy  King's 
Bridge,  and  seize  General  Washington  and  carry  him 
on  board  one  of  their  ships,  in  the  hopes  of  thus  termi- 
nating the  war.  He  names  some  parties  " 

At  this  moment  a  tap  at  the  door,  which  Major  BUTT 
well  knew,  caused  him  to  pause,  and  the  general  in  a 
gruff  voice  summoned  the  party  to  enter. 

It  was  indeed  Margaret,  who  entered  with  a  coun- 
tenance as  composed  as  if  she  was  in  no  wise  interested 
in  the  subject  of  their  conversation.  Seeing  the  gene- 
ral, she  was  about  to  retire,  when  he  said,  in  a  voice 
half  gruff,  half  pleasant :  "  Oh,  come  in,  you  little  Tory ; 
I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you  had  a  finger  in  this,  too.  Go 
on,  major ;  does  he  name  any  parties  ?" 

"  Yes,  general — Captain  Blanchard." 

""What,  that  Royalist  scoundrel  who  has  been  so  well 
treated  here  ?" 

"  I  suppose  it  must  be  him — Corbie  and  Forbes." 

"  Those  infernal  Tory  scoundrels.  I  wish  I  had  hung 
them  when  I  first  proposed  it.  Go  on." 

"A  man  named  Hickey  " 


860  MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  Who  the  devil  is  he  ?"  growled  the  general. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  one  of  the  Life  Guardsmen. 
Then  he  spoke  of  some  woman." 

"  That's  you,  Miss  Impudence,"  exclaimed  the  gene- 
ral,' turning  suddenly  upon  Margaret,  with  an  awful 
frown  upon  his  face,  though  she  could  perceive  that  his 
anger  was  assumed.  "  I  am  sure  that's  you,  and  I'll 
keep  my  promise,  mind  you." 

"  I  am  ready,  sir,"  said  Margaret,  composedly,  at  the 
same  time  baring  her  snowy  neck,  for  she  well  knew  to 
what  he  alluded. 

"Umph !"  said  the  old  general,  and  as  he  gazed  upon 
the  glorious  beauty  before  him,  his  eyes  fastened  upon 
that  swan-like  neck,  "  I  am  afraid  it  would  hurt  you ; 
I'll  wait  till  I  find  out  with  more  certainty.  Go  on, 
major." 

"  That  is  all,  sir,"  replied  the  aid,  folding  up  the  pa- 
per frorri  which  he  had  been  reading,  and  replacing  it 
in  the  breast-pocket  of  his  coat. 

"  Well,  I  don't  believe  there  is  anything  in  it,  but  I 
suppose  it  is  well  enough  to  inquire.  I  wish  I  was 
commander-in-chief  for  one  hour  ;  I  would  hang  every 
Tory  in  the  city,  and  investigate  afterward.  I  suppose 
you  will  make  this  known  to  General  Washington." 

"  Of  course,  general,  He  has  gone  to  examine  the 
works  on  Long  Island,  and  as  soon  as  he  returns,  I  will 
communicate  with  him." 

"  Major,  you  had  better  keep  a  good  lookout  on 


THE  ROYALISTS   IX   DAGGER.  351 

this  young  hussy.  I  shoiildn't  at  all  wonder  if  she  was 
mixed  up  with  it.  I  have  a  great  mind,  Miss  Impu- 
dence, to  have  you  put  under  lock  and  key  until  this  is 
thoroughly  investigated.  Never  mind,  I  won't  at 
present.  Major,  keep  your  eyes  on  her,"  and  again  he 
put  on  a  look  of  awful  severity,  which  Margaret  met 
with  one  of  well  assumed  meekness  and  submission. 
Then  taking  his  hat  from  the  sofa,  he  strode  out  of 
the  room,  leaving  Margaret  and  the  young  aid  alone. 

"  You  did  well,  Aaron,"  she  said,  "  to  report  to  the 
general.  It  will  disarm  all  suspicion  as  to  myself.  I 
have  kept  my  promise  ;  now  there  is  no  time  to  waste 
in  words ;  you  are  familiar  with  the  island  ?" 

"  With  every  nook  and  corner  of  it,"  was  the  reply. 

"  About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  Corbie's  house, 
there  is  a  small  cove  completely  shaded  by  large  trees, 
and  with  low  underbrush  on  the  edge.  On  the  south 
side  of  that  cove  there  will  be  a  boat  at  nine  o'clock  this 
evening.  I  name  that  time,  because  a  later  hour  might 
subject  all  parties  to  more  examination  than  they  choose 
to  undergo.  I  shall  be  in  that  boat  at  that  time.  If 
Colonel  Burr  does  not  regret  what  he  has  said  ard 
promised,  he  will  be  there  also." 

"  I  will  be  there,  Margaret ;  I  have  thrown  the  die, 
and  I  wrill  abide  by  the  cast.  You,  and  you  only.  But 
how  can  you  manage,  or  rather,  how  have  you 
arranged  it?" 

"  Have  no  fear  for  me  ;  I  will  be  there  if  I  am  alive.'* 


352  MAEGABET  MONCRIEFFE. 

"  You  are  a  noble  girl,"  said  the  major,  enthusiasti- 
cally, as  he  gazed  upon  the  beautiful  temptress,  who 
had  so  enchained  him,  "  and  deserve  more  than  I  can 
ever  repay." 

"  You  love  me,  don't  you,  Aaron  ?" 

"  Better  than  my  soul." 

"  Then  that  is  my  reward,  and  I  am  well  repaid. 
Now,  we  have  no  time  for  idle  words  ;  we  know  each 
other  too  well  to  need  them.  You  will  report  to 
General  Washington — when  ?"  she  asked. 

"  As  soon  as  he  returns — perhaps  about  six  o'clock." 

"  That  will  give  you  abundant  time  to  make  any 
preparations  you  desire." 

"  I  need  none.  Under  such  circumstances,  I  shall 
take  nothing  which  may  retard  our  departure." 

"  You  will  bring  your  pistols,  major.  I  always  carry 
mine  when  there  is  a  prospect  of  having  need  of  them. 
Now,  Aaron,  adieu,  till  we  meet  at  nine  o'clock.  I 
may  not  have  an  opportunity  for  conversation  until 
then,  and  when  we  meet  again,  it  will  be  never  to  part 
in  life,"  and  she  held  out  her  hand,  which  was  gladly 
seized,  and  drawing  her  to  him,  he  clasped  her  fair 
form  in  a  long,  close  embrace,  and  imprinting  a  kiss 
upon  her  snowy  forehead,  she  withdrew,  with  the 
simple  words,  "  Remember,  Aaron,  nine  o'clock." 

Major  Burr  had  nerved  himself  to  the  act  he  was 
about  to  perpetrate,  and  was  now  reckless  of  conse- 
quences. He  felt,  too,  a  sense  of  security  which  aided 


THE   ROYALISTS   IN   DAXGER.  353 

him  wonderfully  in  retaining  his  composure,  and  he 
was  quite  equal  to  the  task  of  facing  the  commander 
whom  he  was  about  to  betray,  and  to  communicate  to 
him  the  information  imparted  by  Seth,  with  the  cer- 
tainty that,  under  any  circumstances,  he  would  never 
be  known  as  an  accomplice. 

Shortly  before  six  o'clock,  he  mounted  his  horse,  and 
followed  by  an  orderly,  rode  to  the  head-quarters  of 
General  Washington,  and  throwing  the  reins  to  his 
attendant,  entered  the  house,  and  demanded  an  imme- 
diate interview  with  the  general  on  important  busi- 
ness. 

His  rank  and  position  entitled  him  to  attention,  and 
in  a  few  moments  an  orderly  of  the  Life  Guards 
appeared,  and  ushered  him  into  the  presence  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  by  whom  he  was  received  with 
the  courtesy  and  amenity  for  which  he  was  so  famed, 
the  more  especially  as  having  once  been  his  aid,  the 
general  was  thoroughly  familiar  with,  and  appreciated 
his  worth  and  services. 

"  Be  seated,  major,"  said  the  general,  waving  him  to 
a  seat,  and  laying  down  the  pen  he  had  been  using, 
prepared  to  receive  any  communication  he  might  have 
to  make. 

"  I  have  important  information  to  communicate," 
said  tke  major,  at  the  same  time  drawing  forth  the 
memorandum  he  had  made,  and  at  a  sign  from  the 
general,  who  was  not  accustomed  to  waste  Mrords,  h* 


854  MAKGAEET   HCXNCBIEFFE. 

proceeded  to  detail  briefly  and  succinctly  all  the  fact* 
communicated  by  Seth  Adams  through  Patsy. 

"  And  why  did  that  young  woman  not  call  at  my 
quarters,  sir?"  demanded  the  general  as  the  major 
concluded. 

"  Because,  general,  Seth  Adams  had  directed  her  to 
report  to  me." 

"  And  why  to  you,  sir,  do  you  suppose  ?" 

"  Because,  by  directions  of  General  Putnam  during 
your  absence,  I  had  sent  him  on  the  mission  which 
resulted  so  unfortunately  to  him,  pledging  myself  for 
his  fidelity  and  fitness,  and  his  orders  then  were  to 
report  direct  to  me ;  and  further,  because  I  am  an  old 
friend  of  her  family." 

"That  is  well,  sir.  You  may  leave  your  memoran- 
dum ;  I  will  think  of  this.  There  may  be  something 
in  it ;  but  it  is  not  unlikely  some  story  invented  to 
divert  our  attention  from  more  serious  designs.  The 
whole  affair  looks  to  me  absurd.  I  thank  you,  major, 
for  your  attention  to  this,  and  will  embrace  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  express  my  sense  of  the  obligations  1 
owe  to  that  noble  girl,  who  has  taken  such  pains  to 
serve  her  country." 

Major  Burr  knew  that  the  interview  was  closed,  and 
^vith  a  bow  he  retired,  glad  to  be  free  from  the  search- 
ing glance  of  the  chief  whom  he  had  promised  to 
betray. 


CHAPTER  XXXHI. 

GEXEKAL   WASHINGTON   A>*D   THE   PLOTTERS. 

MAJOR  BURR  had  scarcely  closed  the  door,  which 
separated  him  from  his  chie£  when  the  latter,  rising, 
with  a  flushed  countenance  and  eyes  flashing  with  un- 
wonted anger,  rang  the  small  bell  which  stood  on  his 
table,  and  the  summons  was  answered  almost  before 
the  sound  had  ceased  to  vibrate  on  the  ear,  by  an  or 
derly,  who,  touching  his  hat,  awaited  erect  and  in 
silence  the  order  which  had  summoned  him  there. 

"  I  wish  to  see  Captain  Hamilton,  or  Major  "Webb," 
he  said,  naming  two  of  his  favorite  aids,  and  as 
the  orderly  withdrew,  he  commenced  pacing  the  room 
with  measured  strides,  ever  and  anon  pausing  to  look 
at  the  memorandum  which  Major  Burr  had  left. 

Major  Webb  soon  made  his  appearance,  and  without 
any  wyaste  of  words,  was  directed  to  issue  orders  at 
once  to  the  various  commanders  in  the  city.  To  one 
was  intrusted  the  arrest  of  Forbes  and  Houndling  and 
Mason,  with  every  person  found  in  either  of  their 
houses  at  the  time  of  their  arrest.  To  another  he  gave 
directions  for  the  arrest  of  Corbie  and  all  in  his  house  ; 
while  special  orders  were  issued  to  General  Greeny, 


850  MAEGAKET  MOXCRIEFFE. 

then  in  command  on  Long  Island,  whose  quarters  were 
at  Bedford,  to  detail  a  select  party  of  men,  and  arrest 
Mayor  Matthews,  then  residing  at  Flatbush,  and  parti- 
cular directions  were  given  to  have  the  arrest  made  at 
precisely  one  in  the  morning.  To  Major  Gibbs,  in 
command  of  his  Life  Guard,  orders  were  issued  to  put 
Hickey  under  immediate  arrest,  and  at  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning  to  arrest  Captain  Arthur  Blanchard  and 
all  found  in  his  quarters ;  and  strict  orders  were  issued 
to  the  commanders  of  eveiy  battery  on  either  river, 
not  to  allow  any  boat  to  land  or  to  depart  after  sun- 
down, under  any  circumstances. 

Major  Webb  received  his  orders,  of  course,  without 
a  question  as  to  their  real  purport,  and  having  com- 
pleted the  writing  which  they  required,  they  were 
passed  to  the  general,  who,  hastily  glancing  over  them, 
affixed  his  signature,  and,  without  a  word  of  explana- 
tion, dismissed  his  aid,  with  the  simple  injunction, 
delivered  in  very  earnest  tones,  to  have  them  imme- 
diately delivered  to  the  parties  to  whom  they  were 
issued. 

The  major  did  wonder  somewhat  at  the  silence  main- 
tained by  his  chief,  who  was  usually  very  communica- 
tive with  his  aids,  in  whom  he  reposed  the  most  bound- 
less confidence  ;  but  as  he  knew  as  well  how  to  obey, 
as  he  afterward  proved  he  knew  how  to  fight,  he 
merely  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  retired  to  execute 
tbrt  commands  he  had  received. 


GENERAL   WASHINGTON   AND   THE   PLOTTEES.        357 

Major  Burr,  on  leaving  the  quarters  of  the  com- 
mancler-in-chief,  rode  leisurely  down  Broadway,  fol- 
lowed by  his  orderly,  and,  as  he  was  moving  slowly 
along,  he  perceived  Captain  Bianchard,  the  Royalist, 
coming  toward  him. 

His  first  impression  or  rather  impulse  was  to  accost 
him,  and,  by  gently  hinting  at  the  occurrences  of  the 
day,  he  could  possibly  glean  something  from  him,  by 
means  of  which  he  might  ascertain  if  Captain  Bian- 
chard was  as  well  informed  as  himself.  But  second 
thoughts  prevailed,  and  as  they  neared  each  other,  the 
captain  gracefully  touched  his  hat,  and  addressed  the 
major  with  the  usual  salutations  of  the  day,  which 
were  as  courteously  responded  to  by  the  young  aid. 
There  was  no  appearance  of  coolness — none  of  sus- 
picion— nothing  to  warrant  the  supposition  that  either 
knew  of  the  other's  participation  in  the  important 
matters  which  were  on  the  eve  of  transpiring ;  but 
each,  without  knowing  why,  felt  that  their  positions 
were  mutually  known  ;  for  somehow,  and  most  unac- 
countably, Captain  Bianchard  had  imbibed  the  idea 
that  the  intimacy  between  the  major  and  Margaret 
was  entirely  too  close  for  him  to  be  unacquainted  with 
her  movements. 

With  an  expression  of  the  hope  that  Miss  Moncrieffa 
was  well,  uttered  by  Captain  Blauchard,  they  sepa- 
rated, and  each  went  on  his  way. 

Major   Burr,   on   reaching  his   quarters,  found  hia 


358  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

office  vacant,  and  was  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  being 
alone  ;  for  he  was  on  the  eve  of  taking  the  most  im- 
portant step  of  his  life — one  which  was  to  operate  for 
or  against  him  for  all  time,  and  was,  therefore,  pleased 
to  have  one  more  opportunity  for  reflection  before  he 
made  the  fatal  plunge. 

His  return,  however,  had  been  anxiously  watched 
for  by  Margaret  from  the  window  of  her  room,  which 
fronted  on  Broadway ;  and  he  had  scarcely  unbuckled 
his  sword  and  thrown  himself  into  a  chair,  burying  his 
face  in  his  hands,  when  a  gentle  touch  aroused  him, 
and,  as  he  raised  his  head,  he  met  again  those  eyes, 
whose  power  he  could  not  resist,  if  he  had  so  desired. 

With  a  bound  and  a  cry  of  joy  he  sprang  up,  and, 
seizing  both  her  hands,  looked  intently  at  her  for  au 
instant  with  such  an  earnest,  mournful  expression,  that 
the  tears  came  to  her  eyes  in  very  spite  of  herself. 

"  You  will  always  love  me,  Margaret  ?  You  will  not 
despise  me  for  my  faithlessness  ?" 

" Love  you,  Aaron!  Love  you!  I  never  can  love 
any  one  but  you  ;  and  where  I  do  not  honor,  I  could  not 
love.  Be  true  to  yourself  for  a  few  short  hours,  and 
you  will  find  your  reward  in  the  brilliant  future  before 
you  and  in  " 

"  Your  love,  my  own  Mai'garet,"  interrupted  the  in« 
fatuated  officer. 

"  Come  now,  Aaron,  time  is  precious.  Have  you 
made  your  preparations  ?" 


GENERAL   WASHINGTON   AND   THE   PLOTTERS.        359 

"  I  have  none  to  make.  I  shall  discard  my  uniform, 
and  take  nothing  with  me  which  may  remind  me  of  the 
past.  Pardon  me,  Margaret,"  he  said,  as  he  saw  a 
shade  cross  her  countenance,  "  even  with  your  love  and 
presence  to  cheer  me,  I  cannot  at  once  forget  the  asso- 
ciations of  all  my  life,  short  as  it  has  been,  and  the  ties 
which  have  until  now  bound  me  here." 

"  You  do  not  regret  their  severance  ?"  she  asked, 
half  sadly. 

"  I  shall  have  no  regrets  when  you  are  mine,"  was 
his  reply,  delivered  with  a  depth  and  earnestness  which 
found  their  way  to  her  heart. 

"  I  shall  go  now,  and  leave  the  tea-table  early,  on 
pretence  of  going  out  to  pay  some  calls,  and  I  shall  say 
that  you  are  to  call  for  me  at  Mrs.  Shee's  at  nine 
o'clock.  Of  course,  you  will  be  there." 

"  Of  course,"  he  replied,  smilingly,  for  he  well  knew 
to  what  she  alluded. 

"  Now  then,  Aaron,  give  me  the  countersign,"  and 
as  she  spoke,  he  started,  for  it  was  the  first  occasion  on 
which  he  had  been  called  on  for  direct  action.  He 
colored,  hesitated,  and  stammered,  for  m^dly,  blindly 
and  wi?dly  as  he  loved,  nay,  fairly  idolized  her, 
the  idea  of  betraying  a  trust,  now  that  it  was 
brought  to  him  in  a  palpable  form,  struck  him  as 
something  terrible.  Margaret  saw  his  heightened 
color,  she  noticed  his  hesitation,  and  rightly  divining 
the  cause,  gave  him  a  moment's  reflection,  then  not 


360  MARGARET   MONCBIEFFB. 

trusting  to  words,  smiled  tenderly  on  him,  and  he  was 
conquered. 

Approaching  close  to  her,  he  whispered  in  her  ear 
the  parole  and  countersign,  and  then,  as  if  ashamed  of 
what  he  had  done,  turned  suddenly  away,  for  it  was  his 
first  direct  betrayal  of  his  trust. 

Margaret  gazed  at  him  with  a  singular  expression  of 
countenance,  then  turned  and  moved  toward  the  door, 
saying  as  she  placed  her  hand  on  the  latch,  "  Remem- 
ber, nine  o'clock !  I  shall  be  there." 

The  last  words  were  enough ;  the  last  struggle  was 
over,  and  Aaron  Burr  was  thenceforth  to  be  named  as 
a  traitor  and  deserter. 

The  family  assembled  at  the  evening  meal,  and  the 
subject  of  the  information  communicated  by  Patsy  to 
Major  Burr  was  made  the  topic  of  discussion,  the  gene- 
ral scoffing  at  it  as  ridiculous,  but  occasionally  taunting 
Margaret,  and  renewing  his  caution  to  Major  Burr  to 
keep  a  sharp  lookout  on  her  movements,  and  if  he 
caught  her  amiss,  to  hang  her  first  and  investigate 
afterward. 

Margaret  joined  in  the  conversation  with  her  wonted 
ease  of  manner  and  nonchalance,  and  joked  the  gene- 
ral upon  his  great  desire  to  hang  the  Tories,  which  she 
admitted  was  a  much  easier  method  of  getting  rid  of 
enemies  than  to  kill  them  off  in  a  fair  fight,  at  which 
the  general  laughed  good  humoredly.  Major  Burr, 
who  had  not  the  self-possession  of  Margaret,  was  con»- 


GENERAL   WASHINGTON    AND   THE   PLOTTERS.        361 

^-xtoed  to  listen  to  this  conversation,  and  as  he  looked 
at  her  whose  neck  might  be,  as  it  were,  almost  encircled 
by  a  halter,  smiling  and  jesting  on  the  very  brink  of 
such  a  precipice  as  that  on  which  they  stood,  his  admi- 
ration for  her  was,  if  possible,  heightened. 

Immediately  at  the  close  of  the  meal,  Margaret  arose 
from  the  table,  and  turning  to  General  Putnam,  said, 
with  her  most  winning  smile :  "  Grandpa,  won't  you 
let  Major  Burr  come  after  me,  this  evening;  I  am  going 
out  to  pay  a  call  at  Mrs.  Shee's,  and  you  know  that 
if  I  should  return  alone,  and  any  of  the  sentinels  should 
challenge  me,  I  couldn't  say  anything,  and  he  might 
take  me  to  the  guard-house,"  and  as  she  closed,  she 
looked  as  demure  as  a  nun. 

"  I  don't  know  as  the  major  will  care  to  discharge 
such  a  duty.  If  he  does,  I  have  nothing  to  detain  him. 
Eh,  major !" 

"  I  will  wait  upon  Miss  Moncrieffe,  with  pleasure,'* 
and  he  bowed  to  Margaret,  who  cast  upon  him  a  tri- 
umphant look,  which  seemed  to  say  that  all  of  her 
plans  had  worked  thus  far  successfully,  and  with  a  low 
courtesy  she  withdrew 

"  That  is  a  singular  creature,"  said  Mrs.  Putnam  to 
her  husband,  as  the  door  closed  upon  Margaret's  re- 
treating form. 

"  Most  singular — really  a  remarkable  girl.    By  the 
way,  major,  have  you  thought  who  that  woman  can 
be  ?"  asked  the  general,  turning  suddenly  to  his  aid. 
16 


V62  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFH. 

Tlie  suddenness  of  the  question,  as  well  as  its  char, 
icter,  destroyed  for  an  instant  the  composure  of  the 
young  aid,  who  stammered  and  colored  and  hesitated  ; 
but  he  was  saved  from  a  reply  b)  the  general,  who 
bursting  into  a  broad  laugh,  said  :  "  Why,  major,  you 
blush  and  stammer  like  a  schoolboy  caught  in  a  trick. 
I  didn't  mean  anything  when  I  spoke  so  to  Margaret." 

"  I  have  not  any  idea,  general,"  responded  the  major, 
whose  face  at  the  last  words  of  his  chief  had  turned 
ashy  pale. 

"  Well,  I  did  not  suppose  that  you  did,  major ;  but 
if  there  is  anything  in  it,  we  will  find  it  out,  I  dare 
say." 

Major  Burr  murmured  something  which  he  meant  to 
be  an  assent,  and  rising  from  the  table,  withdrew  from 
the  apartment. 

"  It  is  my  private  opinion,"  said  the  general,  drawing 
back  from  the  table,  "  that  Major  Aaron  Burr  and  Miss 
Margaret  Moncrieffe  are  a  pair  of  love-sick  children 
Bali !  what  nonsense." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

MARGABET  ATTEMPTS  TO   ESCAPE. 

THE  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief  were  obeyed 
with  alacrity,  zeal  and  fidelity,  though  many  were 
the  expressions  of  wonderment  as  to  what  they 
portended,  but  of  course  they  were  executed  without 
question. 

The  evening  of  the  day  so  portentous  in  the  history 
of  our  country,  was  bright,  clear,  and  pleasant.  The 
moon  was  in  its  first  quarter,  and  detracted  nothing 
from  the  brilliancy  of  the  stars  which  studded  the 
firmament. 

Shortly  after  eight  o'clock,  two  parties  were  seen 
wending  their  way  past  Richmond  Hill,  and  as  they 
walked  leisurely  along,  with  linked  arms,  they  seemed 
deeply  engaged  in  conversation — so  deeply,  that  they 
at  first  scarcely  heeded  the  challenge  of  the  sentinel 
Avho  paced  the  road  which  passed  in  front  of  the  head- 
quarters of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
forces.  A  second  challenge,  however,  aroused  them, 
and  the  smaller  of  the  twain,  in  answer  to  the  hail,  "  to 
advance  and  give  the  countersign,"  dropped  his  com- 


864  MAKGARET   MOXCKIEFFE. 

pauion's  arm,  and  approaching  the  soldier,  gave  the 
required  word  in  low  tones.  The  musket  was  at  once, 
restored  from  the  charge  to  the  shoulder,  and  the  pair 
again  joining  arms,  passed  on,  followed  by  the  eyes  of 
the  soldier,  who  wondered  what  could  have  brought 
them  there  at  such  an  hour,  and  how  they  had  learned 
the  countersign ;  but  having  it,  he  was  in  duty  bound 
to  permit  them  to  pass. 

How,  in  heaven's  name,  Miss  Margaret,  did  you 
get  the  word  ?"  asked  the  larger  and  elder  of  the  two, 
when  out  of  ear-shot,  for  his  companion  was  no  other 
than  Mai-garet  Moncriefie,  dressed  in  male  attire, 
accompanied  by  Arthur  Blanchard. 

"  All  in  good  time,  captain — all  in  good  time,  cap- 
tain. In  another  hour  you  shall  know  all,  or,"  and 
she  shuddered  as  she  spoke,  u  nothing." 

"  You  are  a  wonderful  girl,"  said  the  captain,  press- 
ing his  companion's  arm.  "  If  you  had  only  been  a 
man,  what  wonders  you  would  have  achieved ;  indeed, 
you  have  already  accomplished  more  than  all  of  us 
together." 

"  Yes,"  she  laughed,  "  if  I  had  only  been  a  man,  I 
'>hould  have  been  nothing  but  a  man.  Xo,  no,  Captain 
Blanchard,  I  am  so  proud  to  be  Margaret  Moncriefle, 
I  would  not  exchange  my  name  for  any  reputation 
*nanhood  might  bring  to  me." 

"  Ahem !"  said  the  captain,  meaningly,  but  intuitively 
both  felt  it  was  no  time  now  for  mere  bantering  con- 


MARGARET   ATTEMPTS   TO   ESCAPE.  365 

versalion.  Both  were  fleeing  for  their  lives,  and 
although  one  danger  had  been  passed,  others  must  be 
encountered. 

Slowly  they  moved  on,  so  as  not  to  attract  suspicion, 
and  when  fairly  out  of  sight  of  the  Richmond  Hill 
House,  and  of  course  of  the  sentry,  whose  beat  did  not 
extend  beyond  the  garden,  Margaret  turned  suddenly 
into  a  lane,  or  rather  path,  which  tended  toward  the 
river. 

Noiselessly  and  cautiously  they  moved  along  in 
single  file,  Captain  Blanchard  taking  the  lead,  and 
winding  their  way  through  the  shrubbery  and  under- 
brush, the  water's  edge  was  at  last  reached.  A  low 
whistle  from  the  captain  was  answered  by  some  party 
hidden  beneath  the  brush  which  concealed  the  water 
from  sight,  and  in  a  few  moments  a  man,  in  the  garb 
of  a  sailor,  made  his  appearance. 

"Is  all  ready?"  asked  the  captain,  as  the  man 
approached  and  touched  his  hat. 

k'  All  right,  captain,"  was  the  response,  accompanied 
by  another  military  salute. 

"  We  had  better  get  in  the  boat  at  once,"  said  the 
captain  to  his  companion,  who  now  stood  by  his  side. 
The  shrubbery  will  conceal  us  beyond  the  possibility 
of  discovery.  Does  your  friend  know  the  spot  ?" 

"  Perfectly,  and  he  will  be  here,  I  am  confident,  at 
tbe  appointed  hour." 

"  Come,  then,"  and  taking  her  hand,  he  led   her 


866  MARGARET   MONCEIEFFB. 

down  the  steep  bank,  aided  by  the  sailor,  who  had  an- 
swered his  summons,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  were 
seated  in  the  stern-sheets  of  the  boat — a  small  yawl, 
manned  by  four  men,  who,  evidently  aware  that  they 
were  engaged  in  a  dangerous  enterprise,  stood  up, 
gazing  around  as  well  as  the  darkness  would  permit, 
and  crouching  down  upon  their  seats  at  the  slightest 
noise. 

Captain  Blanchard,  now  feeling  secure  from  the  pro- 
bability of  capture,  strove  to  draw  Margaret  into  con- 
versation ;  but  gently  waving  her  hand,  as  if  to  request 
his  silence,  she  said  :  "  Please  don't ;"  and  burying  her 
face  in  her  hand,  she  gave  way  to  her  thoughts. 

Leaving  them  thus  placed,  let  us  return  to  other, 
parties.  Shortly  after  they  had  passed  the  sentry,  the 
officer  of  the  guard  came  around,  and  gave  strict  ordera 
that  no  persons  were  to  be  permitted  to  pass  on  any 
account  whatever,  whether  they  had  the  countersign 
or  not,  but  to  direct  them  to  the  guard-house.  The 
sentinel's  post  was  removed  further  down  the  road,  so 
as  to  command  a  view  of  Corbie's  house,  and  he  was 
specially  instructed  to  note,  so  far  as  was  possible,  how 
many  entered  there. 

After  receiving  these  orders,  the  soldier  then  com- 
municated to  the  sergeant  the  fact  that  two  persons, 
having  the  countersign,  had  passed  shortly  before. 
The  sergeant,  a  keen,  quick-witted  soldier,  who  had 
seen  p\ach  service,  and  who  was  devotedly  attached  to 


MARGAEET    ATTEMPTS    TO    ESCAPE.  367 

bis  general,  questioned  the  man  closely  as  to  their 
dress,  manner  and  appearance,  so  far  as  he  could 
judge,  and  having  obtained  all  the  information  which 
the  sentinel  could  communicate,  hastened  to  the  "bar- 
racks, and  requested  an  instant  audience  of  Major 
Gibbs,  to  whom  he  reported  what  he  had  just  learned. 

"  Has  Captain  Martin  reported  yet  ?"  was  the  in- 
quiry of  the  major,  after  he  had  heard  the  sergeant's 
statement. 

"  There's  a  company  just  below  the  barracks,  major ; 
but  I  don't  know  whose  it  is.  They  came  up  just  be- 
fore I  started  on  my  rounds." 

"  Send  the  orderly  here,  and  allow  no  person  to  pass 
the  lines,  even  if  he  has  the  countersign,"  was  all  the 
reply  which  the  major  made,  and,  in  a  few  moment? 
after  the  sergeant's  departure,  the  orderly  entered  th< 
room. 

"  "Whose  company  is  that  below  the  barracks  ?" 

"  One  from  Colonel  McDougal's  regiment,"  was  tho 
reply,  accompanied  by  the  military  salute. 

Major  Gibbs,  as  commander  of  the  Life  Guards, 
was,  of  course,  in  the  most  intimate  confidence  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  to  him  had  been  communi- 
cated the  information  brought  by  Major  Burr,  which 
made  him  cognizant  of  all  the  orders  issued  by  General 
Washington,  and  of  the  reasons  which  had  governed 
him.  He  had  been  informed  of  the  disclosures  made 
within  the  past  few  hours,  and  fairly  worshipping  his 


368  MARGARET   MOXCRIEFFE. 

general,  had  received  the  impression  that  the  plot  thus 
providentially  betrayed,  was  much  more  extended  than 
had  been  supposed.  As  the  custodian  of  the  personal 
safety  of  the  commander-in-chief,  holding  the  very 
highest  post  of  honor  in  the  army,  the  major  realized 
the  full  sense  of  his  responsibility,  and,  with  character- 
istic prudence,  he  resolved  to  act  upon  his  own  judg- 
ment. Thus  far  he  had  rigidly  obeyed  his  orders.  He 
had  none  others  to  act  upon  ;  but  the  emergency  seemed . 
to  be  such  as  to  demand  prompt  action,  and  that  he 
determined  to  take  upon  his  own  responsibility  ;  and, 
after  a  few  moments'  reflection,  feeling  that  he  had  not 
only  the  right,  but,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  the  power 
to  do  so,  he  resolved  to  act.  The  passage  of  two  per- 
sons through  the  lines,  with  the  countersign,  might  or 
might  not  be  unimportant ;  but  with  the  prudence  of  a 
cautious,  brave,  and  devoted  soldier,  he  determined  at 
once  upon  his  course. 

"  Captain  Martin,  major,"  said  the  orderly,  inter- 
rupting the  major's  reverie,  and  ushering  in  the  com- 
mander of  the  company  in  McDougal's  regiment,  who 
had  been  ordered  to  make  the  arrest  at  Corbie's  house 
when  the  proper  time  had  arrived. 

"  Captain,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  so  prompt ;  but  I 
had  no  reason  to  expect  anything  else  from  you,"  and 
the  captain  bowed  in  response  to  the  compliment, 
which,  by  the  way,  was  hardly  merited. 

"  You  will  please  take  your  men  by  any  route  the 


MABGAEET   ATTEMPTS   TO   ESCAPE.  369 

least  noticeable,  and  post  them  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  near  Corbie's.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that 
he  is  hi  constant  and  direct  communication  with  the 
enemy.  If  any  boat  approaches,  let  it  land,  and  make 
the  whole  party  prisoners." 

u  If  any  boat  attempts  to  pass  your  command,  and 
does  not  land  when  hailed,  fire  into  it  without  hesita- 
tion. There  is  treason  and  treachery  abroad,  Captain 
Martin,  and  we  must  put  them  down.  Go  at  onoc, 
captain,  we  have  no  time  to  lose,"  and,  with  a  salute, 
the  captain  was  about  to  retire,  when  Major  Gibbs 
added :  "  By  the  way,  you  had  better  take  the  Ifvne 
just  north  of  us ;  it  leads  to  the  river,  and  you  can  get 
dosvn  by  that  path  without  trouble,  and  the  fact  of 
your  going  past  Corbie's,  will  disarm  the  inmates,  of 
any  suspicion  as  to  your  purposes." 

In  a  few  moments,  his  command,  some  forty  men, 
was  in  motion,  and  he  led  them  by  the  lane  mentioned 
by  Major  Gibbs,  which  wound  down  to  the  edge  of 
the  river,  and  through  which  Margaret  and  Captain 
Blanchard  had  passed  a  few  minutes  previously,  intend- 
ing by  making  a  detour  to  get  in  the  rear  of  Corbie's 
house,  and  where,  secured  from  observation  by  the 
bushes  which  skirted  the  river,  everything  could  be 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

AARON     BURR     FREE     AGAIN. 

WHILE  matters  are  in  this  posture,  let  us  turn  to 
Major  Burr,  whom  we  left  as  he  arose  from  the  tea-table 
at  General  Putnam's.  He  ascended  to  his  own  apart- 
ment, and  locking  himself  in,  threw  himself  into  a  large, 
leather-bottomed  chair  which  stood  by  the  table  in  the 
centre  of  the  room,  and  burying  his  face  in  his  hands, 
he  gave  way  to  the  thoughts  which  the  occasion  would 
naturally  be  supposed  to  excite. 

Here  was  he — a  youth  just  out  of  his  teens,  who  had 
won  honor,  fame  and  distinction,  such  as  hundreds  of 
older  officers  would  have  been  glad  and  proud  to  enjoy. 
His  reputation  as  a  brave,  cool,  skillful  and  accomplished 
officer,  was  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  young  officer 
in  the  Continental  army,  and  by  few  of  his  seniors.  He 
had  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  regard  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  who  had  evinced  his  appreciation  of 
his  worth  and  talents,  by  making  him  one  of  his  aids — 
a  position  which  he  had  abandoned  voluntarily,  for  the 
reason,  as  he  had  said,  that  he  was  not  content  as  a 
soldier  to  discharge  only  the  clerical  duties  which  de- 
volved upon  an  aid,  and  desired  more  active  ser- 


AAROT   BTJKR  FREE   AGAIN.  371 

rice  ;  and  he  was  then,  at  his  own  request,  backed  by 
that  of  General  Putnam,  transferred  to  his  staff  as  aid, 
where  he  had  service  as  constant  and  active  as  his  heart 
desired.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  and  confidant  of 
this  brave  old  general,  who  loved  him  as  a  son,  while 
every  member  of  the  family  treated  him  as  one  of 
themselves. 

The  career  before  him  under  such  a  leader,  gave 
promise  of  abundant  active  service,  with  the  certain 
prospect  of  promotion  if  he  should  deserve  it,  and  he 
felt  that  he  could ;  and  more  than  all,  he  was  in  the 
very  presence  of  the  enemy,  for  they  were  daily  ex- 
pected to  arrive,  and  in  such  numbers  as  would  call 
forth  all  the  energies  and  courage  and  talents  of  every 
man  in  the  army.  Here  was  a  chance  for  distinction, 
for  new  laurels,  for  added  honors,  and  his  defection  now, 
at  this  imminent  crisis,  would  it  not  be  attributed  to 
cowardice  ?  He  shrunk  with  a  blush  of  shame  from 
this  thought. 

Then  again,  the  fact  that  Margaret  had  fled  the  city 
at  the  same  time  with  himself,  would,  no  doubt,  make 
nis  name  a  very  by-word  of  ridicule  and  contempt,  as 
one  who  for  the  sake  of  a  pair  of  brilliant  eyes,  a  volup 
tuous  form  and  fascinating  manners,  had  forsaken  his 
country  in  her  sorest  hour  of  trial — had  forfeited  his 
honor,  and  sullied  a  name  which  now  bade  fair  to  shine 
in  the  firmament  of  the  country's  history,  among  the 
brightest  of  the  bright  stars  which  studded  it. 


872  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

There  was  no  Margaret  there  then  to  wind  her  snowy 
arms  around  his  neck,  to  tempt  him  with  languishing 
looks  and  burning  kisses  ;  reason,  judgment,  conscience, 
and  the  high  sense  of  honor  and  patriotism  which  had 
led  him  to  volunteer  with  Arnold  for  that  trying  and 
disastrous  expedition,  were  rapidly  regaining  their  sway, 
and  freed  now  from  the  wiles  of  the  enchantress  who 
had  ensnared  him,  he  was  fast  regaining  his  self-control 

True,  the  image  of  Margaret  did  rise  up  before  him, 
and  he  sighed  as  he  thought  of  the  happiness  he  might 
call  his  own ;  but  the  picture  had  lost  something  of  its 
brilliancy — it  was  dimmed  by  the  doubts  which  his 
thoughts  had  woven  around  it,  and  he  could  gaze  upon 
it  without  a  quickening  of  the  pulse,  or  a  brightening 
of  the  eye. 

How  long  he  had  thus  mused  he  knew  not,  but  he 
was  aroused  by  the  clock  of  Trinity  Church,  which 
sounded  the  hour  of  eight,  and  as  he  counted  the 
strokes,  he  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  clenching  his  hands 
until  the  nails  almost  entered  the  flesh,  exclaimed :  "No, 
by  the  great  God  above,  never ;  I  love  you,  Margaret, 
but  I  will  not  sell  my  soul  for  you ;  I  will  not  live,  even 
for  your  love,  to  be  branded  as  a  traitor.  She  is  safe  ; 
thank  heaven  for  that,  and  she  must  learn  to  forget  me, 
as  I  will  her.  If  she  does  love  me,  she  will  feel  prouder 
of  me  as  I  am,  than  as  she  would  make  me ;  and  so 
farewell,  Margaret !" 

What  more  he  might  have  said  was  interrupted  by  a 


AARON   BCRR   FREE   AGAIIf.  373 

tap  i',  his  door,  and  on  opening  it,  Belle  Putnam  stood 
there,  and  as  she  saw  him,  said,  "  Ma  thinks  you  had 
better  go  now  for  Margaret ;  she  ought  to  be  home  by 
nine  o'clock,  and  it  is  a  great  way  to  Colonel  Shee's 
quarters." 

"  True,  Belle ;  I  had  almost  forgotten  it." 
"  What,  forgotten  Margaret  ?"  she  said,  archly  and 
with  a  mischievous  look. 

"  Yes,  Belle ;  I  was  very  deeply  engrossed  hi  thought, 
and  the  time  has  passed  without  my  noticing  it." 
"  And  what  for  your  thoughts,  major  ?" 
"  I  was  thinking  what  the  next  few  days  might  bring 
forth  for  all  of  us,"  and  he  spoke  with  such  solemnity, 
Belle  fairly  shuddered,  for  she,  too,  was  in  constant  ter- 
ror of  an  invasion  by  the  British,  and  presumed  that  he 
alluded  to  that. 

"  Well,  you  had  better  go  now,  and  bring  her  home." 
"Certainly;  I  ought  to  have  been  away  before," 
and  seizing  his  chapeau,  he  left  the  room  and  the  house, 
proceeding  leisurely  up  Broadway,  deeply  engrossed  in 
thought.  He  felt  that  he  had  seen  Margaret  for  the 
last  time,  but  derived  some  consolation  in  the  reflec- 
tion that  she  was  safe,  and  that  through  his  assistance. 
It  was  near  the  hour  of  nine  by  the  time  he  had 
reached  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Richmond  Hill,  and 
a  feeling  which  he  could  not  define,  came  over  him  as 
he  remembered  that  he  had  promised  Margaret  to  be 
at  the  boat  by  that  hour.  Crossing  out  of  the  road.  h« 


874  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFB. 

leaned  up  against  the  fence,  awaiting  the  striking  of 
the  hour  which  was  to  place  Margaret  in  safety,  and  to 
disenthrall  him  from  the  spell  which  had  so  strangely 
bound  him  to  her,  in  spite  of  every  call  of  honor,  duty, 
morality  or  patriotism. 

With  his  face  turned  toward  the  water,  he  was  look- 
ing over  toward  the  Jersey  shore,  when  he  was  startled 
by  the  report  of  one  musket,  followed  almost  instantly 
by  a  volley  which  seemed  to  come  from  the  bushes  just 
below  Corbie's  house,  and  a  short,  sharp  scream,  which 
rang  through  the  still  night  air,  went  to  his  very  heart, 
for  he  felt  that  it  came  from  Margaret. 

In  another  moment,  and  before  he  had  time  to  col- 
lect his  thoughts,  a  boat  swept  out  from  the  shade  of 
the  trees,  and  shot  directly  across  the  river,  propelled 
by  arms  which  were  nerved  by  the  certainty  that  they 
were  pulling  for  life  or  death. 

Slowly  and  sadly  Major  Burr  turned  away,  almost 
wishing  that  the  ball  which  he  doubted  not  had  been 
fatally  sped  for  Margaret,  had  found  him  in  her  stead ; 
but  now  that  the  possibility  of  ever  seeing  her  again, 
whether  she  had  died  thus,  or  escaped  unharmed,  was 
beyond  perad venture,  he  felt  a  sense  of  relief,  and  a 
new  life  seemed  to  be  infused  into  him. 

He  reached  General  Putnam's  house  long  after  the 
family  had  retired,  and  proceeding  to  his  own  apart- 
ment, passed  the  night  in  meditation,  revolving  in  hia 
own  mind  the  extraordinary  occurrences  of  the  past  few 


AAROX  BURR  FREE  AGAINr.  375 

days — for  all  here  narrated  had  transpired  between  the 
first  day  of  June  and  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  in 
the  year  1776,  on  which  day  Hickey,  the  guardsman, 
was  hung.  But  let  us  turn  again  to  Margaret,  whom 
we  left  seated  in  the  boat  which  was  lying  in  the  cove 
in  the  rear  of  Corbie's  house,  awaiting  only  the  arrival 
of  Major  Burr,  to  push  off  and  make  for  the  Duchess  of 
Gordon. 


CHAPTER  XXXYL 

CONCLUSION. 

WE  left  Margaret  and  Captain  Blanchard  seated  in 
the  boat,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  other  party,  as  yet 
unknown  to  the  captain,  but  so  anxiously  expected  by 
the  former,  and  who  was  to  share  the  perils  and 
hazards  of  the  night.  Margaret  had  remained  silent, 
engrossed  in  her  thoughts  so  deeply  she  seemed  almost 
to  have  forgotten  where  she  was,  or  the  circumstances 
which  surrounded  her,  when  she  was  startled  by  the 
hand  of  the  captain,  laid  gently  on  her  own. 

"  Hist !"  he  said,  raising  his  finger  to  hia  lips,  as  if  to 
caution  her  to  silence,  and  in  another  moment  their 
ears,  quickened  by  the  sense  of  the  danger  which 
encompassed  them,  detected  the  tread  of  a  body  of 
men  coming  directly  toward  the  spot  where  the  boat 
lay  concealed  beneath  the  underbrush. 

"  This  way,  men,"  was  uttered  in  loud,  commanding 
tones  ;  "  spread  yourselves  along  the  bank  of  the  river, 
and  keep  both  eyes  wide  open ;  we'll  catch  some  of 
these  infernal  Tory  scoundrels  yet." 

The  men  in  the  boat  had  heard  the  sound  of  the  sol- 
diers'  feet  as  they  advanced  gradually  toward  them, 


377 

and  they  heard,  too,  with  terrible  distinctness,  the  com- 
mand to  skirt  the  bank,  which,  if  accomplished,  would 
render  escape  next  to  impossible. 

Immediate  action  was,  of  course,  peremptorily  neces- 
sary, and  the  man  at  the  bow  oar,  rising,  placed  it 
against  the  bank  and  pushed  the  boat  off  from  the 
shore,  so  that  it  swung  out  into  the  stream,  but  still  in 
the  shadow  of  the  bushes. 

Margaret  caught  a  view  of  what  had  been  done,  and 
grasping  Captain  Blanchard's  arm  with  a  force  of  which 
her  slender  frame  seemed  incapable,  whispered  in 
hoarse,  hurried  tones :  "  For  the  love  of  heaven,  cap- 
tain, stop  them.  Do  not  let  them  go  until  he  arrives  ; 
I  know  he  will  be  here  in  time." 

44  It  is  impossible,  Margaret.  Our  lives  would  cer- 
tainly pay  the  forfeit  of  a  minute's  delay.  Did  you  not 
hear  the  order  to  skirt  the  bank  ?" 

44  Then  let  me  go  ashore ;  I  will  not  leave  without 
him,"  and  she  strove  to  rise,  with  the  intention  of  leap- 
ing on  shore ;  but  the  captain  threw  his  arms  around 
her,  and,  placing  his  mouth  close  to  her  ear,  whispered 
hurriedly :  4t  Would  you  have  our  blood  upon  your 
head  ?  You  cannot,  shall  not  go  on  shore  ;"  and 
waving  his  hand  to  the  men  at  the  oars,  the  boat  was 
pushed  off  boldly,  and  the  muffled  oars  placed  silently 
in  the  row-locks.  One  strong,  hearty  pull  sent  her  at 
least  ten  feet  from  the  shore,  but  not  yet  outside  the 
shade  of  the  trees  and  bushes  which  lined  the  bank; 


919  MARGARET   MONCRIEFFE. 

another  given  as  heartily,  made  her  fairly  spring  from 
the  water,  and  as  she  shot  out  into  the  river,  one  of  the 
soldiers,  who  had  poked  aside  the  bushes  with  his  mus- 
ket, discovered  the  retreating  boat,  and  at  once  gave 
the  alarm,  and  challenged  the  boat,  now  rapidly  re- 
ceding from  the  shore. 

Captain  Blanchard,  who  held  the  tiller,  knew  that 
they  must  be  discovered  soon,  and,  with  a  view  of  pre- 
senting as  small  a  mark  as  possible  to  the  enemy,  di- 
rected the  course  of  the  boat  straight  across  the  river, 
thus  affording  only  a  sight  of  the  stern,  a  mark  too 
small  to  render  the  danger  at  all  imminent,  especially 
at  night,  and  with  the  distance  between  them  increasing 
at  every  stroke  of  the  oars,  now  plied  with  a  heartiness 
doubled  by  the  certainty  that  it  was  a  matter  of  life 
or  death  to  all  on  board. 

The  soldier  who  had  discovered  the  boat  and  given 
the  alarm,  forced  his  way  through  the  bushes,  and 
gaining  a  stand  on  the  water's  edge,  took  deliberate 
aim  at  the  now  indistinct  object  on  the  water,  and  dis- 
charged his  piece.  The  other  men  had  by  this  tune 
managed  to  scramble  down  the  bank  and  through  the 
bushes,  and,  discovering  the  speck  on  the  water,  sent  a 
volley  after  it ;  but  the  balls  fell  harmless  around  those 
in  the  boat,  but  so  close — for  one  of  the  oar  blades  was 
pierced — as  to  draw  a  scream  from  Margaret,  who  had 
crouched  close  to  Captain  Blanchard's  side,  and  who, 
between  her  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  him  she  loved  so 


CONCLUSION.  379 

well,  and  from  whom  she  was  now  perhaps  forever 
separated,  and  the  uncertainty  of  her  own  fate,  was 
completely  unnerved.  It  was  this  scream  which  had 
been  heard  on  shore  by  Major  Burr  through  the  still- 
ness of  the  night. 

Fortunately  for  the  party  in  the  boat,  there  was  no 
other  boat  along  the  shore  nearer  than  a  mile  down  to- 
ward the  city,  and  their  pursuit  was  rendered  impossi- 
ble, and  Captain  Martin,  whose  company  had  fired  at 
the  escaping  party,  could  only  report  what  had  oc- 
curred, to  which  Major  Gibbs  replied,  that  he  was 
glad  to  get  rid  of  them  anyhow,  but  would  much  rather 
have  captured  them,  that  he  might  have  the  pleasure 
of  hanging  the  infernal  Tories.  He  was  a  little  puzzled 
when  the  captain  remarked  that  he  had  heard  a  woman 
scream ;  but  his  conjectures  as  to  who  she  could  be, 
were  solved  on  the  next  day,  when  the  absence  of  Mar- 
garet was  discovered. 

The  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief  for  the  arrest 
of  the  parties  implicated  in  this  diabolical  plot,  so  far 
as  they  were  known,  were  executed  with  zeal  and 
promptness.  Of  course  Captain  Blanchard  was  not 
found,  and  the  rage  of  General  Putnam  when  he  was 
compelled  to  feel  that  he  had  been  out-generalled  by  a 
girl  of  fifteen,  exceeded  all  bounds. 

Great  was  the  commotion  in  the  city  on  the  following 
day,  when  it  was  known  that  during  the  night,  some 
forty  or  fifty  Tories  had  been  arrested  and  sent  to  jail  • 


880  MARGABET   MONCKIEFFE. 

but  greater  still  was  the  surprise  and  indignation  of  the 
Provincials,  when  the  existence  and  discovery  of  the 
plot  were  made  known. 

The  Tories  were  handed  over  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress for  trial,  while  the  soldiers  implicated  were  turned 
over  to  the  mercies  of  a  court-martial,  which  was  con- 
vened on  the  following  day,  and  which  terminated  its 
labors  by  finding  the  guardsman  Hickey  guilty,  and 
sentencing  him  to  be  hung — a  sentence  which  was  car- 
ried into  execution  on  the  28th  of  June,  1776,  near  the 
site  on  which  the  present  Tompkins  Market  is  erected, 
at  the  junction  of  Fourth  and  Third  Avenues 

Margaret  Moncriefie  lived  many  years  after  these 
events ;  but  her  career  was  one,  the  details  of  which 
would  be  unfit  '01  publication,  though  it  is  only  simple 
justice  to  her  woman's  nature  to  state,  and  she  has  so 
recorded  in  her  published  memoirs,  that  she  never 
loved  but  one  man,  and  that  was  Major  Aaron  Burr, 
who  had  won,  and  retained  throughout  her  whole  life, 
dissolute  and  abandoned  as  it  was,  her  undying  devo- 
tion. 

Edmund  Blanchard,  who,  by  reason  of  the  names  of 
the  conspirators  having  been  sent  on  board  the 
"  Duchess  of  Gordon,"  had  escaped  arrest,  returned  to 
his  sober  senses,  and  made  some  reparation  for  his  past 
infamy,  not  only  by  his  after  courage  and  devotion  to 
the  cause  which  he  had  once  consented  to  betray,  but 
by  marrying  Lizzie  Brainard,  with  whom,  after  the 


CONCLUSION.  881 

war  had  closed,  he  lived  for  many  years  in  unclouded 
happiness. 

Patsy,  in  due  time,  forgot  her  faithless  lover,  and  as 
the  wife  of  a  sturdy,  thriving  farmer  in  New  Jersey, 
lived  to  hear  the  country  ring  with  the  praises  of  him 
she  had  once  so  loved  and  trusted,  and  unmoved, 
watched  his  upward  flight,  until  he  came  within  one- 
step  of  reaching  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  a  free 
people. 

Of  the  after  career  of  Aaron  Burr,  much  has  been 
written — much,  too,  that  is  not  only  contradictory  in. 
the  statements,  but  false  in  particulars.  The  Appendix 
which  follows,  the  reader  will  perceive,  gives,  under 
his  own  hand,  a  flat  denial  to  one  important  accusation, 
which  has  been  published  and  reiterated.  To  that 
Appendix  the  author  refers  as  substantiating  his  claim 
to  at  least  a  partial  historical  accuracy  in  the  story  of 
MABGABET  MONCKIEFFE  AND  AABON  BURB. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  I. 

TBOB  author  having  claimed  for  this  work  that  it  record* 
historical  circumstances,  presents  the  following  pages,  copied 
from  the  "American  Archives,"  in  which  the  reader  will  find 
mentioned  many  of  the  names  introduced  to  his  no  tice  in  the 
course  of  the  narrative.  The  trial  of  the  life  guardsman 
Thomas  Hickey,  for  treason,  and  which  terminated  in  his  con- 
viction and  subsequent  execution,  brings  the  whole  plot  and 
the  infamous  plotters  clearly  to  the  reader's  view  ;  and  it  is, 
therefore  chosen  as  the  most  appropriate,  as  well  as  the  fullest 
record  of  events  which  transpired  during  the  period  when 
Margaret  Moncrieffe  was  an  inmate  of  General  Putnam's 
house,  received  and  treated  as  a  member  of  his  family.  The 
documents  now  given  are  copied  from  Vol.  VI.  of  "American 
Archives,"  and,  apart  from  their  direct  connection  with  th» 
author's  fiction,  may  serve  to  interest,  for  the  reason  that  the 
circumstances  thus  detailed  before  the  court-martial,  have 
only  been  alluded  to  in  the  most  general  and  briefest  terms  by 
those  who  have  written  the  history  of  those  troublous  times. 
The  evidence  is  not  presented  in  full,  as  it  would  occupy  too 

17  3* 


386  APPENDIX. 

much  space ;  but  the  main  and  most  prominent  circumstances 
are  here  recorded,  proving,  beyond  the  possibility  of  cavil, 
the  existence  of  one  of  the  most  diabolical  plots  ever  con 
ceived,  and  which  was  only  defeated  by  Providential  interpo- 
sition. The  names  of  the  Provincials  who  had  enlisted  in 
this  infamous  plot  had  been  sent  on  board  the  u  Duchess  of 
Gordon,"  so  that  with  every  effort,  the  court-martial  was 
unable  to  fasten  criminality  on  any  save  a  few  of  the  Royalists 
whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the  course  of  the  trial.  Corbie, 
Forbes,  Mason,  Houndling,  and  others,  directly  implicated, 
were  imprisoned,  and  only  released  when  the  British  took 
possession  of  the  city  after  it  had  been  evacuated  by  the  0<  >n- 
tinental  troops. 

TRIAL  OF  HICKEY  BEFORE  THE  COURT  MARTIAL. 
Col.  SAMUEL  H.  PARSONS,  Pres. 

Lt.  Col.  Wm.  Sheppard,  Capt.  Warham  Parkes, 

Major  Levi  Wells,  Capt.  William  Reed, 

Capt.  Jos.  Hoyt,  Capt.  Jos.  Pettingil, 

Capt.  Abel  Pettibone,  Capt.  David  Lyon, 

Capt.  Samuel  Warren,  Capt.  David  Sill, 

Capt.  James  Mellen,  Capt.  Timothy  Percival. 
WILLIAM  TUDOR,  Judge  Advocate. 

The  warrant  being  read,  and  the  court,  first  duly  sworn, 
proceeded  to  the  trial  of  Thomas  Hickey,  a  private  sentinel  in 
his  Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief 's  Guard,  commanded 
by  Major  Gibbs,  brought  prisoner  before  the  court,  and  ac- 
cused "  of  exciting  and  joining  in  a  mutiny  and  sedition,  and 
of  treacherously  corresponding  with,  enlisting  with,  and  receiv- 
ing pay  from  the  enemies  of  the  United  American  Colonies." 

The  prisoner  being  arraigned  on  the  above  charge,  pleads 
not  guilty. 


APPENDIX.  33? 

GREEN  sworn,  deposes:  That  about  three  weeks 
ogo,  I  was  in  company  with  one  Gilbert  Forbes,  a  gunsmith, 
who  lives  in  Broadway,  and  we  fell  into  a  conversation  on 
politics  ;  I  found  Forbes'  pulse  beat  high  in  the  Tory  scheme  ; 
I  had  repeated  conversations  with  Forbes  afterward,  and  he 
was  always  introducing  politics  and  hinting  against  the  impos- 
sibility of  this  country  standing  against  the  power  of  Great 
Britain ;  he  invited  me  to  dine  with  him  one  day,  and  a  4ay 
or  two  afterward  asked  me  if  I  would  not  enlist  in  the  king's 
service  ;  I  asked  him  where  the  money  was  to  come  from  to 
pay  me  for  the  service ;  Forbes  replied  the  major  would  fur- 
nish money ;  I  was  pleased  with  the  notion  of  getting  some 
money  from  the  Tories,  and  agreed  to  the  scheme,  with  a  view 
to  cheat  the  Tories  and  detect  their  scheme ;  I  mentioned  the 
matter  to  several,  and  among  others  to  Hickey,  the  prisoner ; 
I  told  him  the  principle  I  went  upon,  and  that  we  had  a  good 
opportunity  of  duping  the  Tories ;  Hickey  agreed  to  the 
scheme,  but  did  not  receive  any  money,  except  two  shillings, 
which  I  gave  him  ;  Forbes  left  it  with  me  to  enlist  and  swear 
the  men ;  Forbes  swore  me  and  one  Clark  on  the  Bible  to 
fight  for  the  king,  but  I  swore  Hickey  to  fight  for  America; 
after  the  prisoner  was  engaged,  I  proposed  to  him  to  reveal 
the  plot  to  the  general,  but  Eickey  said  we  had  better  let  it 
alone  till  we  had  made  further  discoveries ;  all  that  Forbea 
proposed  to  me  was  that  when  the  king's  forces  arrived,  wo 
should  cut  away  King's  Bridge,  and  then  go  on  board  a  ship 
of  war  which  would  be  in  the  East  River  to  receive  us;  I  en- 
listed ten  or  a  dozen,  and  told  them  all  my  plan ;  the  prisoner 
•wrote  his  name  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  with  five  others,  which 
1  gave  to  Forbes,  and  this  was  all  the  enlistment  that  I  knew 
of  the  prisoner's  signing. 

GILBERT  FORBES  :  A  night  or  two  after  Gen.  Washington  ar- 
rived in  New  York  from  Boston,  Green  fell  into  company  where 
I  was  ;  we  were  drinking,  and  Green  toasted  the  king's  health, 
and  I  did  so  too ;  a  day  or  two  afterwards  Green  called  upon 
me ;  said,  that  as  I  had  drank  his  majesty's  health,  he  supposed 
1  was  hi*  friend,  and  immediately  proposed  to  enlist  some  uiea 


rf38  APPENDIX. 

into  the  king's  service,  and  told  me  he  could  procure  consider- 
able numbers  to  join  him  ;  I  put  him  off,  and  declined  having 
any  hand  in  the  business  ;  but  in  repeated  applications  from 
him  I  at  last  fell  into  the  scheme ;  Green  was  to  eiilist  th*» 
men,  in  which  I  was  not  to  be  concerned,  nor  have  my  name 
mentioned;  in  a  day  or  two,  Green  gave  me  a  list  of  men  who 
had  engaged,  among  whom  was  the  prisoner,  Ilickey ;  soon 
after  Ilickey  asked  me  to  give  him  a  half  a  dollar,  which  1 
did,  and  this  was  all  the  money  that  Hickey  ever  received  from 
me ;  Green  received  eighteen  dollars,  and  was  to  pay  the  men 
who  enlisted,  a  dollar  a  piece,  and  we  were  to  allow  them  ten 
shillings  per  week  subsistence  money  ;  I  received  upward  of  a 
hundred  pounds  from  Mr.  Matthews,  the  mayor,  to  pay  those 
who  should  enlist  in  the  king's  service ;  who,  after  enlisting, 
were  to  go  on  board  the  king's  ships,  but  if  they  could  not  get 
there,  were  to  play  their  parts  when  the  king's  forces  arrived ; 

that  he  knows  one Silk ;  that  he  was  left  by  Cap.  Aidy 

to  wait  upon  his  wife,  who  livts  on  Long  Island,  somewhere 
near  Hampstead;  that  he  is  often  in  town,  frequently  at 
Mrs.  Oir \  's  and  Mrs.  Braadon's ;  has  the  air  of  a  soldier ; 
wears  a  short  brown  hunting  coat,  arid  a  double-breasted  jacket 
of  the  same  color ;  that  he  used  to  wait  on  a  Mr.  Miller,  who 
lives  or  lodges  in  Mr.  Gouverneur's  house,  on  Rotten  Row ; 
that  Sergeant  Graham  (an  old  soldier,  discharged  from  the 
royal  artillery)  was  employed  by  Governor  Tryon  to  speak  to 
examinant  about  enlisting  men  for  the  king's  service,  and  told 
this  examinant  from  the  governor,  that  if  this  examinant 
exerted  himself  in  that  business,  and  raised  a  number  of 
men,  he  should  have  a  company ;  that  the  said  sergeant  also 
informed  him,  that  at  the  request  of  the  governor,  he  had  sur- 
veyed the  grounds  and  works  about  the  city,  and  on  Long 
Island,  in  consequence  of  which  he  had  concerted  a  plan  for  an 
aHack,  which  lie  had  given  to  Governor  Tryon,  and  of  which 
the  governor  approved  ;  which  was  as  follows,  viz. :  That  the 
men-of-war  should  cannonade  the  Battery  at  Red  Hook,  and 
that  while  that  was  doing,  a  detachment  of  the  army,  with 
•ome  cannon,  etc.,  should  land  below  or  about  Red  Hook,  and 


APPENDIX.  389 

march  round  so  as  to  come  upon  the  back  of  the  batteries  near 
the  Swedeland  House;  that  a  small  part  of  the  detachment 
should  make  a  feint  of  marching  up  the  road  leading  directly 
to  the  battery,  but  that  the  main  body  were  to  make  a  circui- 
tous march  so  as  to  reach  the  battery  while  our  attention  was 
engaged  by  the  feint  aforesaid  ;  that  if  they  carried  that  bat- 
tery, which  they  expected  to  take  by  storm,  they  \vere  imme- 
diately to  attack  the  battery  on  the  hill  near  the  ferry,  which 
the  sergeant  said  would  be  easily  done,  as  no  embrasures  were 
made  or  cannon  fixed  on  the  back  side  of  it ;  that  this  latter 
battery,  when  in  their  possession,  would  command  the  works 
on  Gouveruour's  Island,  which  they  would  keep  between  two 
tires,  viz. :  the  battery  last  mentioned,  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
shipping  on  the  other;  that  then  the  shipping,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  array,  were  to  divide  ;  one  division  was  to  run 
up  the  North  River  and  land  at  or  near  about  Clarke's  farm,  and 
march  directly  to  Enclenbergh  Hall  and  fortify  there ;  the  other 
division  was  to  run  up  the  East  River  and  land  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  gain  Jones'  Hill,  from  whence  they  expected  to 
command  and  silence  the  battery  on  Bayard's  Hill ;  that  should 
they  guin  possession  of  the  places  above  mentioned,  their  next 
object  would  be  the  grounds  adjacent  to  King's  Bridge,  where 
they  intended  to  erect  strong  works,  so  as  to  cut  off  the  coir- 
munication  between  the  city  and  the  country. 

Gilbert  Forbes  being  further  examined,  saith :  That  some 
time  before  the  man-of-war  removed  from  the  town  to  the 
narrows,  one  "Webb,  a  burr-millstone  maker,  told  examinant 
that  if  lie  had  any  rifles  to  sell,  he  could  get  a  good  price  for 
them  by  sending  them  on  board  the  man-of-war,  and  that  a 
young  man  who  lived  with  James  Riviugton  told  him  the 
same ;  that  this  examinant  had  then  nine  rifles  which  he  made, 
but  they  were  bad  and  would  not  shoot  straight,  and  eleven 
smooth,  narrow-bored  guns;  that  he  sent  some  of  them  io 
Mrs.  Becks,  a  tavern  keeper,  near  the  Fly  Market,  with  ordera 
to  send  them  on  board,  which  she  accordingly  did,  and  that 
the  said  Webb  carried  the  remainder;  that  the  said  Webb 
told  this  examiaant  that  Governor  Try  on  would  give  him  three 


890  APPENDIX. 

guineas  apiece  for  them ;  that  at  the  same  time  when  an  e* 
change  of  prisoners  took  place  with  the  man-of-war,  ami  Ti- 
ley  was,  among  others,  exchanged,  the  mayor,  viz.,  David  Mat- 
thews, Esq.,  sent  for  this  examinant  and  told  him  that  he  was 
going  on  board  the  governor's  ship,  and  that  he  would  get  the 
money  due  from  the  governor  to  this  examinant  for  the  rifles 
aforesaid  ;  that  on  his  return  the  mayor  told  this  examinant  he 
would  pay  him  in  a  few  days ;  that  this  examinaut  never  did 
receive  any  money  from  him  for  the  said  fire-arms;  that  this 
examinant  told  Charles  Benson  that  he  was  about  enlisting 
men,  and  that  he  told  this  examinant  it  would  do. 

WILLIAM  WELCH  :  Between  a  fortnight  and  three  weeks 
ago,  I  met  the  prisoner  on  the  street ;  he  asked  me  to  go  with 
him  to  a  grog  shop ;  when  we  got  there  he  told  me  he  had  some- 
thing to  tell  me  of  importance,  but  insisted  on  my  being  sworn 
before  he  would  communicate  it ;  I  accordingly  swore  on  the 
Bible  to  keep  secret  what  he  should  tell  me;  he  then  said, 
that  this  country  was  sold;  that  the  enemy  would  soon  ar- 
rive, and  that  it  was  best  for  us  old  countrymen  to  make  our 
peace  before  they  came,  or  they  would  kill  us  all ;  that  we  old 
countrymen  should  join  together,  and  that  we  would  be  known 
by  a  particular  mark,  and  if  I  would  agree  to  become  one  of 
them,  he  would  carry  me  to  a  man  who  would  let  me  have  a 
dollar  by  way  of  encouragement ;  I  did  not  relish  the  project 
and  we  parted. 

ISAAC  KETCHUM:  Last  Satai day  week  the  prisoner  was  com- 
mitted to  jail,  on  suspicion  of  counterfeiting  the  Continental 
currency,  and  seeing  me  in  jail,  inquired  the  reason  of  it;  I 
told  him,  because  I  was  a  Tory ;  on  this,  a  conversation  en- 
sued on  politics;  indifferent  conversations  he  informed  me 
that  the  army  was  become  damnably  corrupted  ;  that  the  fleet 
was  soon  expected,  and  that  he  and  a  number  of  others  wero 
in  a  band  to  turn  against  the  American  army  when  the  king's 
troops  should  arrive,  and  asked  me  to  be  one  of  them ;  the 
plan  he  told  me,  was,  some  were  to  be  sick,  and  others  were 
to  hire  men  in  their  room  ;  that  eight  of  the  general's  guard 
were  concerned,  but  mentioned  only  Green  by  name ;  he  fur- 


APPENDIX.  891 

ther  told  me,  that  one  Forbes,  a  tavern  keeper,  was  to  be  their 
captain,  but  that  the  inferior  officers  were  not  yet  appointed, 
lest  the  scheme  should  be  discovered. 

The  prisoner  here  being  called  upon  to  make  his  defence, 
produces  no  evidence,  but  says  "  he  engaged  in  the  scheme  at 
first  for  the  sake  of  cheating  the  Tories,  and  getting  some 
money  from  them,  and  afterward  consented  to  have  his  name 
eent  on  board  the  man-of-war,  in  order  that,  if  the  enemy 
should  arrive  and  defeat  the  army  here,  and  he  should  be 
taken  prisoner,  he  might  be  safe." 

WILLIAM  FORBES,  of  Goshen  Precinct,  in  Orange  County, 
tanner  and  currier,  being  examined,  saith:  That  he  knows 
Gilbert  Forbes,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  gunsmith ;  that  the 
first  time  he  saw  him  was  in  this  city,  between  the  brick 
meeting  and  the  jail ;  that  he  heard  somebody  call  him  Mr. 
Forbes ;  this  examinant  accosted  him,  and  told  him  that  his 
name  was  Forbes  also ;  that  thereupon  they  went  into  Hould- 
ing's  tavern,  and  drank  together;  that  he  has  been  at  the 
house  of  the  said  Gilbert  Forbes,  on  an  invitation  from  him. 
That  he  knows  a  sergeant  in  General  Washington's  Guards, 
but  cannot  recollect  his  name;  -that  he  became  acquainted 
with  him  at  Corby's  (an  inn-keeper),  near  General  Washing- 
ton's ;  that  this  examinant  went  to  Corby's  in  company  with 
one  James  Mason,  of  Ilingwood,  who  was  at  work  in  Corby's 
garden ;  that  the  sergeant  was  a  middle-sized,  fair-cornplex- 
ioned  man— an  Englishman;  that  examinant  became  acquainted 
with  James  Mason  at  Duchess  County ;  afterward  saw  him  at 
Goshen,  and  from  thence  came  in  company  with  him  to  this 
town ;  that  he  told  Mason  he  had  been  on  board  the  man-of- 
war  last  winter,  while  she  lay  in  the  East  River;  that  he 
never  was  on  board  the  Duchess  of  Gordon ;  that  he  never 
said  he  was  on  board  the  Savage  rrnen  she  fired  on  Staten 
Inland  ;  that  he  had  heard,  and,  among  others,  from  the  said 
Mason,  that  two  hundred  acres  of  land  were  offered  by  Gover- 
nor Tryon  to  each  man  who  would  go  in  the  king's  service, 
and  one  hundred  to  the  wife,  and  fifty  to  each  child;  that 
a^aminant  borrowed  twenty  odd  shillings  of  Ma^m,  and 


392  APPENDIX. 

promised  to  pay  him  v  hen  examinant  got  money  from  on 
board  the  man-of-war,  where  he  had  two  brother's-in-law, 
who  had  promised  to  send  him  money  to  pay  hi?  debts ;  that 
he  never  had  engaged  with  Governor  Tryon,  or  any  other 
person  whatever,  to  undertake  the  business  of  enlisting  soldiera 
for  the  king,  nor  of  enticing  the  Continental  soldiers  to  leave 
that  service ;  that  he  and  Mason  came  to  town  by  way  of 
Elizabethtown,  and  that  at  Warwick  Mason  persuaded  one 
"William  Benjamin  to  go  along  with  them  ;  that  he  knows 
Peter  McLean,  a  shoemaker,  near  the  Exchange  ;  that  exami- 
nant applied  to  him  to  put  him  on  board  the  man-of-war ; 
that  McLean  answered  he  could  not  do  it  all,  the  sentries 
were  so  strict ;  that  examinant  then  said  to  McLean  that  then 
he  would  enlist  in  the  Continental  service,  which  he  has  since 
done,  in  Captain  Beekman's  company,  of  Lasher's  battalion ; 
that  examinant  and  Mason  lodged,  the  first  night  they  came 
to  town,  at  Houlding's;  that  while  they  were  there,  Corby 
was  introduced  to  Benjamin  and  Mason  by  Gilbert  Forbes  and 
the  aforesaid  sergeant  of  the  guards.  This  examinant  says 
the  said  sergeant  and  Gilbert  Forbes  administered  oaths  of 
secrecy  to  Mason  and  two  or  three  soldiers;  that  Corby  was 
present  when  the  said  soldiers  were  swum  as  aforesaid.  That 
after  McLean,  as  aforesaid,  had  told  this  examinant  that  he 
knew  not  how  to  get  on  board  the  man-of-war,  McLean 
recommended  him  to  David  Matthews,  Esq.,  as  a  proper  per- 
pon  to  direct  him  how  to  get  on  board  the  man-of-war ;  that 
examinant  accordingly  went  to  Mr.  Matthews,  and  told  him 
that  McLean  had  directed  examinant  to  him  as  a  proper  per- 
son to  tell  him  how  he  should  get  on  board  the  man-of-war, 
and  that  there  was  a  lad  (meaning  Mason)  that  had  come  down 
from  Ringwood,  who  wanted  to  go  along;  that  Mr.  Matthews 
told  him  that  it  was  too  dangerous  for  him  to  say  anything 
about  it,  but  that  he  would  direct  him  to  one  who  could  get 
him  on  board,  and  sent  this  examinant  for  that  purpose  to 
Gilbert  Forbes;  that  this  examinant  accordingly  applied  to 
the  said  Gilbert  Forbes,  and  that  Forbes  said  he  could  not  do 
anything  in  it  till  he  had  seen  Corby  ;  that  shortly  after,  tha 


APPEXDIX.  393 

said  Gilbert  Forbes  told  this  examinant  he  had  seen  Corby, 
and  that  Corby  said  he  would  get  examinant  on  board  in  a  few 
days;  that  examinant  afterward  saw  Corby,  and  that  he  mada 
the  like  promise  to  examinant,  but  Corby  afterward  told  him 
he  could  not,  and  that  he  had  been  able  to  send  only  one  on 
board  by  a  mulatto  fellow.  That  this  examinant  knows  John 
Clarke,  and  that  he  told  this  examinant  that  he  had  fifty  or 
sixty  men  to  go  in  the  king's  service,  and  that  he  had  prevailed 
upon  his  brother,  Anthony  Clarke,  to  consent  to  go  with 
them ;  that  John  Clarke  was  to  be  a  captain,  and  that  one 
Seeley,  of  Chester,  in  Orange  County,  was  also  to  be  one  of 
the  officers. 

WILLIAM  FOBBES. 

Examined  23d  day  of  July,  1776,  before  us: 
JOHN  JAY, 

GOOTERNEUB   MoEEIS. 

JOHN  YATES,  of  the  Wallkill  Precinct,  in  Ulster  County, 
laborer,  being  sworn,  saith  :  That  early  in  this  last  spring, 
Absalom  Bull,  one  of  deponent's  neighbors,  came  to  him,  and 
told  him  that  he  was  but  a  poor  man,  and  that  if  he  would  go 
with  the  said  B^ill,  he  would  make  a  gentleman  of  this  depo- 
nent ;  that  this  deponent  asked  him  how ;  he  replied  that  if 
this  deponent  would  go  and  serve  the  king  for  three  years,  cr 
to  the  end  of  the  American  war,  if  that  should  sooner  hap- 
pen, this  deponent  should  have  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
the  frontiers  ;  that  deponent  said  it  was  very  uncertain,  for  he 
did  not  see  how  he  was  to  get  a  warranty  deed  for  it;  but.  if 
he  could  get  a  warranty  deed  for  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
he  did  not  know  but  he  might  engage  ;  on  this  they  parted  ; 
that  for  many  days  repeatedly  after  that,  the  said  Absalom 
Bull,  together  with  Isaac  Waugh  and  Richard  Bull,  came  to 
this  deponent  and  pressed  him  to  enter  into  the  king's  service, 
but  the  deponent  put  them  off;  that  they  afterward  Went,  as 
they  informed  this  deponent,  on  board  the  man-of-war,  and 
when  they  returned,  brought  him  a  letter  from  Governor 
Try  on,  informing  ti  is  deponent  that  if  he  would  come  oil 
17* 


39 1  APPENDIX. 

board  his  ship  and  pilot  the  men-of-war  up  the  river,  he  would 
give  this  deponent  a  dollar  a  day  and  five  pounds  a  foot  for 
every  foot  that  the  vessel  he  piloted  drew  more  than  twenty 
feet,  and  should  have  two  hundred  acres  of  land  at  the  deter- 
mination of  the  American  war ;  and  that  Ireland,  Scotland, 
and  Wales  had  all  united  with  England  to  suhdue  America; 
that  this  deponent  had,  till  within  a  few  years  last  past,  been 
a  seafaring  man,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  the  navigation 
of  the  North  Itiver,  which  was  well  known  to  his  said  neigh- 
bors, and,  as  this  deponent  believes,  was  by  them  made  kcown 
to  Governor  Tryon ;  that  this  deponent  afterward  received 
two  other  letters  of  the  like  import  from  Governor  Tryon ; 
that  about  six  weeks  this  deponent,  together  with  the  said 
Absalom  Bull,  Eichard  Bull,  and  Isaac  "Waugh,  travelled  from 
their  homes  down  through  Westchester  County  to  Whitestone 
Ferry,  where  they  crossed  over  to  Long  Island,  and  thence  to 
Hempstead,  and  went  to  the  house  of  one  Simonson,  a  tavern- 
keeper  in  that  town  ;  that  they  went  from  thence  to  the  house 
of  Captain  Hulet,  where  they  all  lodged  ;  that  the  next  morn- 
ing this  deponent's  companions  went  off  from  Rockaway  in 
an  oyster  boat  that  plied  between  that  coast  and  the  ships, 
and  supplied  them  with  provisions,  as  he  was  informed  and 
believed ;  that  they  desired  this  deponent  to  go  with  them,  but 
this  deponent  being  sick  and  not  much  inclined  to  go  on  board, 
said  he  would  wait  at  Captain  Ilulet's  till  their  return;  that 
after  three  days  they  all  returned  to  this  deponent  at  Captain 
Ilulet's  aforesaid,  and  that  Colonel  Fanning,  the  governor's 
secretary,  came  with  them ;  that  the  said  Colonel  Fanning 
•was  well  known  to  this  deponent,  he  having  often  seen  him, 
and  this  deponent  having  been  a  mariner  in  Captain  Hunter's 
ship,  which  brought  the  colonel  from  England ;  that  at  present 
this  deponent  did  not  know  Colonel  Fanning,  he  being  dis- 
guised in  the  dress  of  a  common  laboring  man,  but  on  taking 
this  deponent  aside,  he  made  himself  known  to  him,  where- 
upon this  deponent  immediately  recollected  his  face  and  per- 
eon ;  that  he  asked  this  deponent  to  go  on  board  with  him ; 
this  deponent  answered  that  he  was  too  sick  to  go  ;  that  then 


APPENDIX .  395 

the  colonel  told  him  that  if  he  could  not  go  then  he  must 
come  down  when  the  fleet  arrived,  and  that  they  would  send 
this  deponent  a  letter  informing  him  of  it,  to  which  this  depo- 
nent agreed  ;  that  Colonel  Fanning  told  him  New  York  was  to 
be  the  seat  of  war ;  that  some  of  the  fleet  would  run  around 
into  the  Sound,  and  land  troops  on  Long  Island ;  that  another 
division  would  land  on  the  south  side  and  hoist  the  king's 
standard  ;  and  that  all  the  men  that  had  engaged  to  serve  the 
king  should  come  to  Long  Island,  and  that  there  were  then 
three  field-pieces  and  a  mortar  piece  under  the  floor  of  the 
barn  of  the  said  Simonson ;  the  said  Colonel  Fanning  also  told 
this  deponent  that  they  should  want  him  to  pilot  vessels  of 
war  up  the  North  Kiver,  and  that  the  Savage,  Phoenix,  and 
Shuldan  (which  he  believes  was  formerly  the  Rhode  Island 
packet)  were  designed  for  that  service ;  that  the  colonel  de- 
sired this  deponent  to  bring  all  the  provisions  he  cou'id  on 
board  the  ships,  and  that  he  should  receive  the  following  prices 
for  them,  viz. :  five  pounds  a  barrel  for  salt  pork  ;  one  shilling 
per  pound  for  gammons ;  eighteen  pence  per  pound  for  batter, 
and  a  good  price  for  fowls,  eggs,  etc.,  and  then  gave  this  depo- 
nent a  paper  (now7  delivered),  with  a  seal  on  it  and  the  letters 
"W.  T.  on  the  back  of  it,  and  told  this  deponent  that  it  would 
«erve  him  as  a  pass  to  go  by  all  the  men-of-war  and  cruisers 
unmolested  ;  that  Colonel  Fanning  further  told  this  deponent 
that  Absalom  Bull,  aforesaid,  had  enlisted  a  great  many  men, 
and  desired  this  deponent  to  do  the  like,  but  this  deponent  de- 
clined it ;  that  this  deponent  knows  John  Clarke,  a  painter ; 
that  he  saw  him  in  this  town  about  a  fortnight  ago ;  that  he 
told  this  deponent  he  was  going  on  board  the  ships,  ajid  re- 
quested this  deponent  to  go  with  him,  which  this  deponent 
refused ;  that  he  advised  this  deponent  to  engage  to  light  for 
the  king,  and  said  the  Americans  would  be  beat;  that  the 
aforesaid  Absalom  Bull  showed  this  deponent,  this  Spring,  a 
list  of  persons  whom  he  had  enlisted  for  the  king's  service : 
that  the  said  Absalom  told  this  deponent  that  there  were  'wo 
hundred  names  on  it,  which  this  deponent  really  believes  to  b* 
true,  but  this  deponent  does  not  remember  the  names  oi  tnj 


396  APPENDIX. 

of  them,  except  Richard  Bull,  Alexander  Scadden,  James 
Scadden,  Isaac  "VVaugli,  John  Clarke  (the  painter,  aforesaid), 
Jewel  Smith,  and  one  Seeley,  of  a  place  in  Orange  County 
called  Oxford  ;  that  Absalom  Bull,  aforesaid,  was  to  be  a  cap- 
tain, and  had  a  commission  for  it  from  Governor  Tryon,  which 
lie  showed  to  this  deponent,  and  that  it  was  written  on  parch- 
ment and  a  great  seal  hanging  to  it,  but  that  this  deponent  did 
not  read  it ;  the  said  Absalom  Bull  further  said,  that  all  the 
men  so  enlisted  for  the  king's  service  were  to  join  the  fleet  when 
it  arrived,  and  that  all  who  did  not  would  be  treated  as  de- 
serters from  the  king's  service. 

his 
JOHN  -\-  YATES. 

mark. 
Sworn  the  24th  June,  1776,  before  us, 

JOHN  JAY, 
GotrvERNEUR  MORRIS. 

The  court  being  cleared,  after  mature  consideration,  are 
unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the  prisoner  is  guilty  of  the 
charge  against  him,  and  of  a  breach  of  the  fifth  and  of  the 
thirteenth  articles  of  the  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the 
Government  of  the  Continental  Forces;  and  the  court  unani- 
mously sentence  and  adjudge  that  the  pr  soner,  Thomas 
liickey,  suffer  death  for  said  crimes,  by  being  hanged  by  the 
neck  till  he  is  dead. 

SAMUEL  H.  PARSONS,  President. 


WARRANT  FOR  THE  EXECUTION  OF  HICKEY. 

BY  His  EXCELLENCY,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  ESQ.,  GENERAL 
AND  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  • 

To  the  Provost  Martfial  of  said  Army  : 
Whereas,  Thomas  Hickey,  a  soldier  enlisted  in  the  service 

of  the  said  United  Colonies,  has  been  duly  convicted  by  a 


APPEXD1X.  397 

General  Court  Martial  of  mutiny  and  sedition,  and  also  with 
holding  a  treacherous  correspondence  with  the  enemies  of 
said  Colonies,  contrary  to  the  Kules  and  Kegulations  estab- 
lished for  the  government  of  said  troops;  and  the  said  Thomas 
Hickey  being  so  convicted,  has  been  sentenced  to  death,  by 
being  hanged  by  the  neck  till  he  shall  be  dead,  which  sen- 
tence, by  the  unanimous  advice  of  the  general  officers  of  the 
said  army,  I  have  thought  proper  to  contirm ;  These  are, 
therefore,  to  will  and  require  you  to  execute  the  said  sentence 
upon  the  said  Thomas  Hickey  this  day,  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  forenoon,  upon  the  ground  between  the  encampments  of 
the  brigades  of  Brigadier  General  Spencer  and  Lord  Stirling, 
and  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  sufficient  warrant.  Given 
under  my  hand  this  twenty-eighth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 
HEAD-QUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  June  28th,  1776. 


NEW  YORK,  June  28th,  1776. 

By  virtue  of,  and  in  ohedience  to,  the  foregoing  warrant,  1 
have  this  day,  at  the  time  and  place  therein  ordered  and 
directed,  caused  Thomas  Hickey,  the  prisoner  within  men- 
tioned, to  suffer  death  in  the  way  and  manner  therein  pre- 
scribed, and  accordingly  return  this  warrant  fully  executed.* 

WILLIAM  MOBONY, 
Provost  Marshal  in  the  Army  of  the  United  Colonies. 


*  New  York,  July  1, 1T76.— Last  Friday  was  executed,  in  a  field  betwetn  the 
Colonels  McDougal  and  Huntlngton's  camp,  near  the  Bowery  Lane  (in  the  pre- 
sence of  near  twenty  thousand  spectators),  a  soldier  belonging  to  his  Excel 
lency  General  Washington's  Guards,  for  mutiny  and  conspiracy,  being  one  of 
those  who  formed,  and  was  soon  to  have  put  in  execution,  that  horrid  plot  of 
assassinating  the  staff  officers,  blowing  up  the  magazines,  and  securing  th« 
passes  of  the  town,  on  the  arrival  of  the  hungry  ministerial  myrmidons.  It  is 
hoped  the  remainder  of  those  miscreants,  now  in  our  possession,  will  meet  with 
a  punish  uient  adequate  to  tlieir  crimes. 


898  APPENDIX. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  dated  New  York,  Junt  24,  1770. 

My  last  to  you  was  by  Friday's  post,  since  which  a  most 
barbarous  and  infernal  plot  has  been  discovered  among  our 
Tories,  the  particulars  of  which  I  cannot  give  you,  as  the 
committee  of  examination  consists  of  but  three,  who  are 
sworn  to  secrecy.  Two  of  Washington's  guards  are  con- 
cerned, the  third  they  tempted  to  join  them  made  the  first 
discovery.  The  general  report  of  their  design  is  as  follows : 
Upon  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  they  were  to  murder  all  the 
staff  officers,  blow  up  the  magazines,  and  secure  the  passes  of 
the  town.  Gilbert  Forbes,  gunsmith  in  the  Broadway,  was 
taken  between  two  and  three  o'clock  Saturday  morning,  and 
carried  before  our  Provincial  Congress,  who  were  then  sitting, 
but  refusing  to  make  any  discovery,  he  was  sent  to  jail  and 
put  in  irons.  Young  Mr.  Livingston  went  to  see  him  early 
in  the  morning,  and  told  him  he  was  sorry  to  find  he  had 
been  concerned,  and  as  his  time  was  very  short,  not  having 
above  three  days  to  live,  advised  him  to  prepare  himself 
This  had  the  desired  effect ;  he  asked  to  be  carried  before  the 
Congress  again,  and  he  would  discover  all  he  knew.  Several 
have  been  since  taken  (between  twenty  and  thirty),  amoLg 
them  our  mayor,  who  are  all  now  under  confinement.  It  w 
said  their  party  consisted  of  about  five  hundred. 

I  have  just  heard  that  the  mayor  has  confessed  bringing 
money  from  Ryan  to  pay  for  rifle-guns  that  Forbes  had  made. 


CERTIFICATES  OF  THE  SERVICES  OF  COL.  AARON 
BURR  IN  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION,  FROM 
HIS  FELLOW-SOLDIERS. 

Letter  from  SAMUEL  ROWLAND,  ESQ.,  to  RICHARD  V.  MOBBIS, 
E«j. 

FAIRTIELD,  CONN.,  January  2J>ih,  1815. 

[n  answer  to  the  inquiries  relating  to  the  evacuation  of  New 
York  in  1776,  I  can  only  observe,  but  few  persons  who  wera 


APPENDIX.  399 

present  and  eye-witnesses  of  the  event,  are  now  living  in  this 
part  of  the  country ;  I  find,  however,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ripley,  a 
gentleman  of  eminent  respectability,  and  Messrs.  Wakeiuan 
and  Jennings,  respectable  citizens  of  this  town,  now  living, 
who  belonged  to  the  brigade  of  the  late  General  Silliman,  the 
information  of  which  gentlemen,  on  any  subject,  can  be  relied 
on,  and  will  be  no  otherwise  than  correct,  however  prejudice 
or  other  cause  might  occasion  a  reluctance  in  disclosing  the  in- 
formation in  their  power  to  give ;  yet  duty  impelled  their  nar- 
rative, and  the  neglecting  an  opportunity  to  give  evidence  of 
noble  acts  and  unrewarded  worth,  they  consider  ingratitude. 
In  preference  to  communicate  to  you  by  way  of  letter,  con- 
cerning transactions  of  so  long  standing  as  in  the  year  1776,  I 
desired  the  inclosed  certificates,  which  the  gentlemen  freely 
gave,  in  order  to  prevent  any  misconstruction  by  passing 
through  a  second  hand,  by  which  you'll  have  more  correct 
information  than  possibly  is  in  my  power  to  give. 

I  am  respectfully,  your  obedt.  sevt., 

SAMUEL.  ROWLAND. 
RICHARD  VALENTINE  MORRIS,  ESQ. 

Certificate  from  the  REV.  HEZEKIAH  RIPLEY. 
(Copy). 

On  being  inquired  of  by  Samuel  Rowland.  Esq.,  of  Fairfield 
town  and  county,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  relative  to  my 
knowledge  and  recollection  respecting  the  merits  of  Col.  Aaron 
Burr  as  an  officer  and  soldier  in  the  late  Revolutionary  war 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  can  certify  aa 
follows : 

Hezekiah  Ripley,  of  said  Fairfield,  do  certify :  That  on  or 
about  the  fifteenth  day  of  September,  1776,  I  was  the  officiat- 
ing chaplain  of  the  brigade,  then  commanded  by  Gen.  Gold 
8.  Sullivan ;  from  mismanagement  of  the  commanding  officer, 
that  brigade  was  unfortunately  left  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  fit  the  time  before  mentioned.  While  the  brigade  wa.s  in 
front,  ard  myself  considerably  in  the  rear,  I  was  met  by  the  late 
Geo.  Putnam,  deceased,  who  then  informed  me  of  the  landing 


400  APPENDIX. 

of  the  enemy  above  us,  and  that  I  must  make  my  escape  en 
the  west  side  of  the  island  ;  whereupon  I,  on  foot,  crossed  the 
lots  to  the  west  side  of  the  island  unmolested,  excepting  hy  the 
tire  from  the  ships  of  the  British,  which  at  that  time  lay  in  tho 
North  River ;  how  the  brigade  escaped,  I  was  not  an  eye-wit- 
ness, but  well  recollect,  from  the  information  I  then  had  from 
Gen.  Chandler  (now  deceased),  then  acting  as  a  colonel  in 
said  brigade,  that  Mr.  Burr's  exertions,  bravery  and  good  con- 
duct, was  the  principal  means  of  saving  the  whole  of  that  bri- 
gade from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  whose 
conduct  was  then  by  all  considered  judicious  and  meritorious. 

But,  however,  I  well  recollect  before  I  had  the  information, 
alluded  to  from  General  Chandler,  I  had  seen  Mr.  Burr  and  in- 
quired of  him  how  the  brigade  had  made  their  escape,  who  then 
told  me  the  particulars,  which  were  afterward  confirmed  by 
all  the  officers,  who  were  all  of  opinion  that  had  it  not  been 
for  him  they  would  not  have  effected  their  retreat  and  escape. 

As  to  my  own  opinion  of  the  management  of  the  troops  on 
leaving  New  York,  I  then  and  still  suppose,  as  did  Gen.  Chan- 
dler, that  Col.  Burr's  merits  then  as  a  young  officer  ought  and 
did  claim  much  attention,  and  whose  official  duties  as  an  aid- 
de-camp  on  that  memorable  day,  justly  claimed  the  thanks  of 
the  army  and  his  country. 

(Signed)      HEZEKIAH  RIPLEY. 


Certificate  from  MR.  ISAAC  JENNINGS  and  from  MR.  ANDREW 

WAKEMAN. 

Being  requested  by  Samuel  Rowland,  Esq.,  to  give  intorma- 
tion  relative  to  the  evacuation  of  New  York  in  the  year  1776, 
by  the  American  army,  we,  the  subscribers,  then  acting,  one 
in  the  capacity  of  a  lieutenant,  and  the  other  as  a  private, 
in  the  brigade  commanded  by  the  late  General  Sullivan,  now 
deceased,  do  certify :  That  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  September 
(being  on  the  Lord's  day)  the  British  landed  on  the  east  side  of 
the  island,  about  four  miles  above  the  city ;  the  American 
troops  retrea.ted  the  same  day  to  Harlem  Heights ;  bj  soma 


APPENDIX.  401 

misapprehension  of  the  orders,  or  from  other  causes  unknown 
co  u?,  our  brigade  was  left,  and  was  taken  by  General  Knox  to 
Bunkers  Hill,  a  small  fort  (so  called)  about  a  mile  from  town ; 
the  fort  was  scarcely  able  to  hold  ns  all ;  we  had  but  just  got 
into  the  fort,  when  Aaron  Burr,  then  aid -de-camp  to  Genenil 
Putnam,  rode  up  and  inquired  who  commanded  there;  Geu. 
Knox  presented  himself,  and  Burr  (then  called  Major  Buir) 
asked  the  general  what  he  did  there,  and  why  he  did  not  re- 
treat with  the  army ;  the  general  replied,  that  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  retreat,  as  the  enemy  were  across  the  island,  and  that  he 
meant  to  defend  that  fort ;  Major  Burr  ridiculed  tire  idea  of 
defending  the  place,  being,  as  he  said,  without  provisions  or 
water,  or  bomb  proof,  and  that  with  one  mortar,  or  one  how- 
itzer, the  enemy  would  take  the  place  in  four  hours,  or  in  some 
very  short  time,  and  again  urged  General  Knox  to  retreat  to 
Harlem  Heights ;  hut  General  Knox  said  it  would  be  madness 
to  attempt  it;  a  smart  debate  ensued,  the  general  adhering  to 
his  opinion ;  Burr  addressed  himself  to  the  men,  and  told  them 
that  if  they  remained  there,  they  would,  before  night,  be  all 
prisoners  and  crammed  into  a  dungeon,  or  hung  like  dogs  ;  he 
engaged  to  lead  them  off,  and  observed  that  it  would  be  better 
that  one-half  should  be  killed  in  fighting,  than  all  be  sacrificed 
in  that  cowardly  manner.  The  men  agreed  to  follow  him,  and 
he  led  them  out,  he  and  his  two  attendants  riding  on  the  right 
flank;  about  four  miles  from  town,  we  were  fired  upon  by  a 
party  of  the  enemy;  Burr  galloped  directly  to  the  spot  the 
firing  came  from,  hallooing  to  the  men  to  follow  him ;  it  proved 
to  be  only  a  guard  of  about  a  company  of  the  enemy,  who  im- 
mediately fled;  Burr  and  his  horsemen  pursued  and  killed 
several  of  them ;  while  he  was  thus  engaged,  the  head  of  a 
column  had  taken  a  wrong  road  ;  Burr  came  up  and  turned  us 
to  the  left  into  a  wood,  and  rode  along  the  column  from  front 
to  rear,  encoiiraging  the  men,  and  led  us  out  to  the  main  army 
with  very  small  loss. 

The  coolness,  deliberation  aud  valor  displayed  by  Major 
Burr,  in  effecting  a  safe  retreat  without  material  loss,  and  his 
meritorious  services  to  the  army  on  that  day,  rendered  him  an 


402  APPENDIX. 

object  of  peculiar  respect  from  the  troops,  ami  the  partlcn 

lar  notice  of  the  officers.      /Q-       1%       ISAAC  JENNINGS, 
(Signed) 


Letter  from  NATHANIEL  JCDSON  to  COMMODORE  R.  V.  MORRI&. 

ALBANY,  10<A  February,  1814. 

SIR  :  I  have  received  your  letter  with  the  preceding  state- 
ment respecting  our  retreat  from  New  York  Island,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1776,  and  in  compliance  with  your  request,  I  have  to 
reply,  that  the  relation  made  by  Mr.  Wakeman  and  Mr.  Jen- 
nings corresponds  with  my  recollection.  I  was  near  Colonel 
Burr  when  he  had  the  dispute  with  General  Knox,  who  said 
it  was  madness  to  think  of  retreating,  as  we  should  meet  the 
whole  British  army ;  Col.  Burr  did  not  address  himself  to  the 
men  but  to  the  officers,  who  had  most  of  them  gathered  around 
to  hear  what  passed,  as  we  considered  ourselves  as  lost ;  but 
Col.  Burr  seamed  so  confident  that  he  could  make  good  a  re- 
treat, and  made  it  clear  that  we  were  all  lost  if  we  staid  there, 
that  we  all  agreed  to  trust  to  his  conduct  and  courage,  though 
it  did  appear  to  us  a  most  desperate  undertaking ;  and  he  did 
Dot  disappoint  us,  for  he  effected  a  retreat  with  the  whole  bri- 
gade, and  I  do  not  think  we  lost  more  than  thirty  men ;  we 
had  several  brushes  with  small  parties  of  the  enemy ;  Colonel 
Burr  was  foremost,  and  the  most  active  where  there  was  dan- 
ger, and  his  conduct,  without  considering  his  extreme  youth, 
was  afterward  a  constant  subject  of  praise  arm  admiration  and 
gratitude ;  this  affair  was  much  talked  of  in  the  army  after 
the  surrender  of  Fort  Washington,  in  which  a  garrison  of 
about  2,500  men  was  left  under  circumstances  very  similar  to 
our?,  this  fort  having  no  bomb  proof ;  that  garrison  surren- 
dered, as  is  well  known,  on  the  very  same  day  our  army  re- 
treated, and  of  those  2,500  men,  not  500  men  survived  the  im- 
prisonment they  received  from  the  British.  I  have  since  then 
heard  it  repeated  hundreds  of  times  by  the  officers  and  men 
of  Sullivan's  brigade,  'that  our  fate  would  have  been  the  same, 
had  it  not  been  for  Col.  Burr ;  1  was  a  sergeant-major  iu 


408 

Chandlers  regiment  of  Sillimarrs  brigade  at  the  tiim  of  the 
re! rcat.  I  am,  your  very  humble  sevt. 

NATIU.  JCDSON. 
To  R.  V.  MORRIS,  ESQ. 


Letter  from   COLONEL  EICHAKD   PLATT    to    COMMODORE  Y. 
MORRIS. 

(Copy). 

NEW  YORK,  January  27, 1614 
YAI.EXTIXE  MORRIS,  ESQ., 

DEAR  SIR  :  In  reply  to  yours  of  the  of  November 

last,  requesting  to  be  informed  what  was  the  reputation  and 
services  of  Colonel  Burr  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  I  give 
you  t.he  following  detail  of  facts  which  you  may  rely  on,  as  no 
man  was  better  acquainted  with  him  and  his  military  operation 
than  your  humble  servant,  who  served  in  that  war  from  the 
28th  of  June,  1775,  till  the  evacuation  of  our  capital,  on  the 
memorable  25th  November,  1783  ;  having  passed  through  the 
grades  of  Lieutenant,  Captain,  Major,  Major  of  Brigade,  Aid- 
<")e-Ci;mp,  Depnty-Adjutant-General,  and  Deputy- Quartermas- 
ter-General, the  last  of  which  by  selection  and  recommenda- 
tion of  General  Greene.  McDougal,  and  Knox,  in  the  most 
trying  crisis  of  the  Revolution,  viz.,  the  year  1780,  when  the 
Continental  money  ceased  to  pass,  and  there  was  no  other  fis- 
cal resource  during  that  campaign  but  what  resulted  from  the 
creative  genius  of  Timothy  Pickering,  then  appointed  succes- 
sor to  General  Greene,  the  second  officer  of  the  American 
army,  who  resigned  that  department  because  there  was  no 
money  in  the  national  coffers  to  carry  it  through  the  campaign, 
declaring  that  he  could  not  nor  would  not  attempt  it  without 
adequate  resources,  such  as  he  abounded  in  during  the  terra  of 
nearly  three  years  antecedently  as  quartermaster-general. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  by  way  of  elucidation,  it  is  to 
be  understood  by  you,  that  so  early  as  from  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  1776, 1  was  always  attached  to  a  commanding  general, 
and  in  consequence,  my  knowledge  of  the  officers  and  their 
merits  v  as  more  general  than  that  of  almost  any  other  in  the 


404  APPENDIX. 

•ervice,  and  my  operations  were  upon  the  extended  scale  from 
the  remotest  parts  of  Canada,  wherever  the  American  stand- 
ard had  waved,  to  the  splendid  theatre  of  Yorktown,  when 
and  where  I  was  adjutant-general  to  the  chosen  troops  of  the 
northern  army. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Eevolution,  Colonel  Burr, 
then  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  at  the  first  sound  of  the 
trump  of  war  (as  if  bred  in  the  camp  of  the  Great  Frederick, 
whose  Maxim  was  :  "  To  hold  his  army  always  in  readiness  to 
break  a  lance  with  or  throw  a  dart  against  any  assailant,'')  quit  his 
professional  studies  and  rushed  to  the  camp  of  General  Wash- 
ington, at  Cambridge,  as  a  volunteer,  from  which  he  went 
with  Colonel  Arnold,  on  his  daring  enterprise  against  Quebec, 
through  the  wilds  of  Canada  (which  vied  with  Hannibal's 
march  over  the  Alps),  during  which  toilsome  and  hazardous 
march  he  attracted  the  admiration  of  his  commander  so  much 
that  he  (Arnold)  sent  him  alone  to  meet  and  hurry  down 
General  Montgomery's  army  from  Montreal,  to  his  assistance, 
and  recommended  him  to  that  general,  who  appointed  him  his 
aid-de-camp,  in  which  capacity  he  acted  during  the  winter,  till 
the  fatal  assault  on  Quebec,  in  which  that  gallant  general,  his 
aid,  McPherson,  and  Captain  Cheesman,  commanding  the  for- 
lorn hope,  fell ;  and  afterward  continued  as  aid  to  Arnold,  the 
survivor  in  command. 

Here  I  must  begin  to  draw  some  of  the  outlines  of  his 
genius  and  valor,  which,  like  those  of  the  British  immortal 
Wolfe,  who,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  and  only  major  of  the 
20th  regiment,  serving  on  the  continent,  gave  such  specimens 
of  genius  and  talents,  as  to  evince  hiu  being  destined  for  com- 
mand. 

At  the  perilous  moment  of  Montgomery's  death,  when  dis- 
may and  consternation  universally  prevailed,  and  the  column 
halted,  he  animated  the  troops,  and  made  many  efforts  to  lead 
them  on,  and  stimulated  them  to  enter  the  lower  town,  and 
might  have  succeeded  but  for  the  positive  orders  of  Colonel 
Donald  Campbell,  the  commanding  officer,  for  the  troops  fcj 
retreat.  Had  his  plan  been  carried  into  effect,  it  might  have 


APPENDIX.  406 

saved  Arnold's  division  from  capture,  which  had,  after  our  re- 
treat, to  contend  with  all  the  British  force  instead  of  a  part. 
On  this  occasion  I  commanded  the  first  company  in  the  first 
New  York  regiment,  at  the  head  of  Montgomery's  column,  so 
that  I  speak  from  ocular  demonstration. 

The  next  campaign,  1776,  Colonel  Burr  was  appointed  aid- 
de-camp  to  Major-General  Putnam,  second  in  command  under 
General  Washington,  at  New  York,  and  from  my  knowledge 
of  that  general's  qualities  and  the  colonel's,  I  am  very  certain 
that  the  latter  directed  all  the  movements  and  operations  of 
the  former. 

In  January,  1777,  the  continental  establishment  for  the  war 
commenced.  Then  Colonel  Burr  was  appointed  hy  General 
Washington  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  Malcom's  regiment,  in 
which  he  continued  to  serve  until  April  or  May,  1779,  when 
the  ill  state  of  his  health  ohliged  him  to  retire  from  active 
service,  to  the  regret  of  General  McDougal,  commanding  the 
department,  and  those  of  the  commander-in-chief,  who  ottered 
to  give  him  a  furlough  for  any  length  of  time,  and  to  get  per- 
mission from  the  British  general  in  New  York  for  him  to  go 
to  Bermuda  for  his  health. 

This  item  will  show  his  value  in  the  estimation  of  GeneraU 
Washington  and  McDougal : 

During  the  campaign  of  1777,  Malcom's  regiment  was  with 
the  main  army,  and  commanded  by  the  lieutenant-colonel. 
For  discipline,  order,  and  system,  it  was  not  surpassed  by  any 
in  the  service,  and  could  his  (the  lieutenant-colonel's)  and 
Wolfe's  orderly  books  be  produced,  they  would  be  very  simi- 
lar in  point  of  military  policy  and  instructions,  and  fit  models 
for  all  regiments. 

This  regiment  was  also  hutted  at  the  Valley  Forge  in  1777 
and  winter  of  1778,  under  General  Washington,  and  composed 
part  of  his  army  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  on  the  28th  of 
June,  1778,  and  continued  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  cam- 
paign of  that  year,  at  which  time  it  was  placed  in  garrison  at 
West  Point  by  General  Gates ;  but  upon  General  McDougal 
assuming  the  command  of  the  posts  in  the  Highlands  in  De- 


cember,  Malcom's,  Spencer's,  and  Patten's  regiments  were 
together  ordered  to  Haverstraw,  the  three  colonels  were  per- 
mitted to  go  home  for  the  winter  on  furlough,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Burr  had  the  command  of  the  whole  brigade  at  a  very 
important  advanced  post. 

At  this  period  General  McDougal  ordered  a  detachment  of 
about  three  hundred  troops,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Littlefield  of  the  Massachusetts  line,  to  guard  the  lines 
in  Westchester  County,  then  extending  from  Tarrytown  to 
Whiteplains,  and  from  thence  to  Mamaroneok  or  Saw  Pits, 
which  last  extension  was  guarded  by  Connecticut  troops  from 
Major-General  Putnam's  division. 

In  this  situation  of  affairs,  a  very  singular  occurrence  pre- 
sented, viz.,  that  neither  Lieutenant-Colonel  Littlefield  nor  any 
other  of  his  grade  in  the  two  entire  brigades  of  Massachusetts 
troops  composing  the  garrison  of  West  Point,  from  which  the 
lines  were  to  be  relieved,  was  competent,  in  the  general's  esti- 
mation, to  give  security  to  the  army  above  and  lines  below ; 
and  in  consequence  he  was  compelled  to  call  Colonel  Burr 
from  his  station  at  Haverstraw,  to  the  more  important  com- 
mand of  the  lines  in  Westchester,  in  which  measure,  unprece- 
dented as  it  was,  the  officers  acquiesced  without  a  murmur, 
from  a  conviction  of  its  expediency.  At  this  time  I  was  doing 
the  duty  of  adjutant-general  to  General  McDougal. 

It  was  on  this  new  &nd  interesting  theatre  of  war  that  the 
confidence  and  affections  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  (who  now 
became  permanent  on  the  lines,  instead  of  being  relieved  every 
two  or  three  weeks  as  before)  as  well  as  of  the  inhabitants,  all 
before  unknown  to  Colonel  Burr,  were  inspired  with  con- 
fidence by  a  system  of  consummate  skill,  astonishing  vigilance, 
and  extreme  activity,  which  in  like  manner  made  such  an  im- 
pression on  the  enemy,  that  after  an  unsuccessful  attack  on 
one  of  his  advanced  posts,  he  never  made  any  other  attack  on 
our  lines  during  the  winter. 

Ilis  humanity  and  constant  regard  to  the  security  of  the 
property  and  persons  of  the  inhabitants  from  injury  and  in- 
eult,  were  not  less  conspicuous  than  his  military  skill,  etc.  No 


APPENDIX.  407 

man  W&K  insnlted  or  disturbed ;  the  health  of  the  troops  was 
perfect ;  not  a  desertion  during  the  whole  period  of  his  com- 
mand, nor  a  man  made  prisoner,  though  the  colonel  was  con- 
stantly making  prisoners. 

A  country  which,  for  three  years  before,  had  been  a  scene 
of  robbery,  cruelty,  and  murder,  became  at  once  the  abode  of 
ac-curity  and  peace.  Though  his  powers  were  despotic,  they 
were  exercised  only  for  the  peace,  the  security,  and  protection 
of  the  country  and  its  inhabitants. 

In  the  winter  of  1779,  t!ie  latter  part  of  it,  Major  Hull,  an 
excellent  officer,  then  in  the  Massachusetts  line,  was  sent  down 
as  second  to  Colonel  Burr,  who,  after  having  been  familiarized 
to  his  system,  succeeded  him  for  a  short  time  in  command, 
about  the  last  of  April,  at  which  time  Colonel  Burr's  health 
would  not  permit  him  to  continue  in  command  ;  but  the  major 
was  soon  compelled  to  fall  back  many  miles,  so  as  to  be  within 
supporting  distance  of  the  army  to  the  Highlands. 

The  severity  of  the  service,  and  the  ardent  and  increasing 
activity  with  which  he  had  devoted  himself  to  his  country's 
cause  for  more  than  four  years,  having  materially  impaired  his 
health,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  post  and  retire  from 
active  service.  It  was  two  years  before  he  regained  his 
health. 

Major  Hull  has  ever  since  borne  uniformly  the  most  honor- 
able testimony  of  the  exalted  talents  of  his  commander,  by 
declaring  his  gratitude  for  being  placed  under  an  officer  whoso 
system  of  duty  was  different  from  that  of  all  other  cou 
manders  under  whom  he  had  served. 

Having  thus  exhibited  the  colonel's  line  of  march  and  his 
operations  in  service,  I  must  now  present  him  in  contrast  with 
his  equals  in  rank  and  his  superiors  in  command. 

In  September,  1777,  the  enemy  came  out  on  both  sides  of 
tl.e  Hudson  simultaneously,  in  considerable  force,  say  from  two 
to  three  thousand  men ;  on  the  east  side  (at  Peekskill)  was  a 
major-general  of  our  army,  with  an  effective  force  of  about 
two  thousand  men.  The  enemy  advanced,  and  our  genera] 
retired  without  engaging  them ;  our  barracks  and  store-house* 


408  APPENDIX. 

and  the  whole  village  of  Peekskill  were  sacked  and  burnt  and 
the  country  pillaged. 

On  the  west  side,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Clove,  near  Suffren's, 
was  Colonel  Burr,  commanding  Malcom's  regiment,  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  men.  On  the  first  alarm  he  marched 
to  find  the  enemy,  and  on  the  same  night  attacked  and  took 
their  picket  guard,  rallied  the  country,  and  made  such  show  of 
•war  that  the  enemy  retreated  the  next  morning,  leaving  be- 
hind him  the  cattle,  horses,  and  sheep  they  had  plundered. 

The  year  following,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson  was  sent 
to  command  on  the  same  lines,  in  Westchester,  by  General 
Heath,  and  he  was  surprised  at  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  day, 
and  made  prisoner,  with  a  great  part  of  his  detachment. 

Again,  in  the  succeeding  winter,  Colonel  Green,  of  the 
Khode  Island  line,  with  his  own  and  another  Khode  Island 
regiment,  who  was  a  very  distinguished  officer,  and  had  with 
these  two  regiments,  in  the  year  1777,  defeated  Hessian  grena- 
diers, under  Count  Donap,  at  Red  Bank,  on  the  Delaware,  who 
was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  commanded  on  the 
lines  in  Westchester,  there  receded  to  Pine's  Bridge,  and  in 
this  position  Colonel  Green's  troops  were  also  surprised  after 
breakfast  and  dispersed,  the  colonel  himself  and  Major  Flagg 
killed,  and  many  soldiers  made  prisoners,  besides  killed  and 
wounded. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  in  the  year  1780,  General 
Wayne,  the  hero  of  Stony  Point,  with  a  large  command,  and 
field  artillery,  made  an  attack  on  a  block  house,  nearly  oppo- 
site Dobb's  ferry,  defended  by  Cow-boys,  and  was  repulsed 
with  loss ;  whereas  Col.  Burr  burnt  and  destroyed  one  of  a 
similar  kind  in  the  winter  of  1779,  near  Delancy's  Mills,  with 
a  very  few  men  and  without  any  loss  on  his  part,  besides  cap- 
turing the  garrison. 

Here,  my  good  friend,  Commodore,  I  must  drop  the  curtain 
till  I  see  you  in  Albany,  which  will  be  in  the  first  week  in 
February,  where  I  can  and  will  convince  you  that  he  is  the 
only  man  in  America,  (that  is)  the  United  States,  who  is  fit  to 
be  a  lieutenant-general,  and  let  you  and  I,  and  all  the  Anicri- 


APPENDIX.  409 

can  people  look  out  for  Mr.  Madison's  lieutenant-general  in 
contrast.     Adieu.     I  am, 

Your  friend  and  most  obt.  servt., 
(Signed)  RICHD.  PLATT. 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  EGBERT  HUNTER,  ESQ.,  formerly  a  lieu- 
tenant in  MALCOM'S  regiment,  to  GABRIEL  FUBMAN,  ESQ., 
member  of  Assembly. 

Niw  YORK,  January  22d,  1814. 

DEAR  SIK  :  I  have  understood  that  an  application  will  be 
made  to  the  Legislature  by,  or  on  behalf  of  Col.  Burr,  for  re- 
muneration for  his  military  services  during  our  Revolutionary 
war. 

Having  had  the  happiness  to  serve  under  him  for  more  than 
two  years,  and  having  retained  an  unbounded  respect  for  hia 
talents  and  character,  you  will  pardon  me  for  asking  your 
active  support  of  anything  which  may  be  moved  in  his  favor; 
for  certainly  if  any  officer  of  the  army  deserved  recompense, 
it  is  Col.  Burr. 

He  sacrificed  his  health,  and  underwent  more  fatigue  and 
privations  than  any  other  officer  of  whom  1  had  any  know- 
lodge. 

If  I  thought  it  could  be  useful  to  him  or  amusing  to  you,  I 
would  enter  into  details ;  but  the  facts  are  of  general  notoriety, 
and  his  superiority  as  a  military  man,  is,  as  far  as  my  know- 
ledge extends,  universally  allowed. 

I  will,  however,  detain  you  while  I  relate  a  single  incident, 
because  it  was  the  first  of  which  I  was  a  witness :  I  was 
attached  as  a  cadet  to  Coi.  Malcom's  regiment,  then  stationed 
In  the  Clove,  when  Burr  joined  it  as  lieutenant-colonel,  being 
in  the  summer  of  1777 ;  Malcolm  seeing  that  his  presence  was 
unnecessary  while  Burr  was  there,  was  with  his  family  about 
twenty  miles  distant.  Early  in  September  we  heard  that  the 
enemy  were  out  in  great  force  ;  Burr  gave  orders  for  the  secu- 
rity of  the  camp  and  of  the  public  stores,  and  within  one  honr 
after  news  was  received,  marched  with  the  choice  of  the  regi- 
18 


410  APPENDIX. 

tnent  to  find  the  enemy ;  at  Paramus  the  militia  were  assem- 
bled in  considerable  force,  but  in  great  disorder  and  terror ; 
no  one  could  tell  the  force  or  position  of  the  enemy ;  Burr  as- 
sumed the  command,  to  which  they  submitted  cheerfully,  as 
he  alone  (though  but  a  boy  in  appearance)  seemed  to  know 
what  'he  was  about;  he  arranged  and  encouraged  them  a* 
well  as  time  would  permit,  and  taking  a  few  of  the  most  hardy 
of  the  men,  continued  his  march  toward  the  enemy ;  two  or 
three  miles  this  side  Hackensack,  we  learned  that  we  were 
near  the  enemy's  advanced  guard;  Burr  chose  a  convenient 
place  for  the  men  to  repose,  and  went  himself  to  examine  the 
position  of  the  enemy ;  a  little  before  daylight  he  returned, 
waked  us  and  ordered  us  to  follow  him  ;  he  led  us  silently  and 
undiscovered  within  a  few  paces  of  the  British  guard,  which 
we  took  or  killed ;  from  the  prisoners  we  learned  that  the 
enemy  were  about  2,000  strong;  without  loss  of  time  he  sent 
expresses  with  orders  to  the  militia,  and  to  call  out  the  coun- 
try, and  I  have  no  doubt  but  he  would  within  forty-eight 
hours  have  had  an  army  capable  of  checking  the  progress  of 
the  enemy,  and  of  preventing  or  impeding  their  retreat ;  but 
they  retreated  the  day  following,  and  with  every  mark  of  pre- 
cipitation ;  during  these  two  days  and  nights,  the  colonel  did 
not  lay  down  or  take  a  minute's  repose ;  thus  you  perceive,  my 
dear  sir,  that  Burr  being  more  than  thirty  miles  distant  when 
he  heard  of  the  enemy,  was  in  their  camp  the  same  night ; 
you  will  agree  with  rne  that  things  are  not  done  so  now-a-days. 

Similar  instances  of  activity  and  enterprise  occurred  in  each 
of  the  four  campaigns  he  served,  and  very  frequently  during 
the  winter  he  commanded  on  the  lines  of  West  Chf  ster. 

I  repeat  that  it  will  afford  me  pleasure  to  relate  so  much 
of  these  things  as  came  to  my  own  knowledge,  if  it  would  be 
of  any  use. 

Malcom  was  never  a  month  with  the  regiment  after  Burr 
joined  it,  so  that  it  was  Burr  who  formed  it,  and  it  was  a 
model  for  the  whole  army  in  discipline  and  order;  he  never 
in  a  single  instance  permitted  any  corporal  punishment. 

His  attention  and  care  of  the  UK-LI  was  such  as  1  never  *aw( 


APPENDIX.  411 

nor  anything  approaching  to  it,  in  any  other  officer,  though  I 
served  under  many, 

It  would  be  a  disgrace  to  the  country  if  such  a  man  should 
be  denied  a  liberal  compensation,  when  it  is  too  well  known 
that  he  stands  in  need  of  it. 

I  shall  consider  myself  as  personally  obliged  by  your  exer- 
tions in  his  favor,  and  hope  your  colleagues  will  add  theirs  to 
yours. 

Please  to  show  this  letter  to  your  colleagues,  and  to  offer 
them  my  respects.  I  am,  yours,  etc., 

(Signed)  ROBERT  HUNTER. 

To  G.  FURMAN,  ESQ.,  Member  of  Assembly,  Albany, 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  SAMUEL  Youxo,  ESQ.,  of  West  Chester 
County,  lately  Member  of  Assembly,  and  for  many  years  Sur» 
rogate  of  the  county,  to  COMMODORE  VALENTINE  MOEKIS. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT,  January  25th,  1814. 

DEA.K  SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  30th  ult.,  asking  for  some 
account  of  the  campaign  in  which  I  served  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Burr  during  the  Revolutionary  "War,  was  re- 
ceived some  days  ago,  and  has  been  constantly  in  my  mind. 
I  will  reply  to  it  with  pleasure,  but  the  compass  of  a  letter 
will  not  admit  of  much  detail. 

I  resided  in  the  lines  from  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tion until  the  winter  of  the  year  1780,  when  my  father's  house 
was  burned  by  order  of  the  British  general ;  the  county  of  "West 
Chester,  very  soon  after  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  be- 
came, on  account  of  its  exposed  situation,  a  scene  of  the  deepest 
distress ;  from  the  Croton  to  King's  Bridge,  every  specie-*  of 
rapine  and  lawless  violence  prevailed;  no  man  went  to  his 
bed  but  under  the  apprehension  of  having  his  house  plundered 
or  burned,  or  himself  or  family  massacred  before  morning, 
some,  under  the  character  of  Whigs,  plundered  the  Tories, 
while  others  of  the  latter  description  plundered  the  "Whig? ; 
p-t.rties  of  marauders,  assuming  either  character,  or  noue,  aa 


412  APPENDIX. 

enited  their  convenience,  indiscriminately  assailed  both  Whig! 
and  Tories ;  so  little  vigilance  was  used  on  our  part,  that  the 
emissaries  and  spies  of  the  enemy  passed  and  repassed  without 
interruption. 

These  calamities  continued  undiininished  until  the  arrival  of 
Col.  Burr,  in  the  autumn  of  the  year  1778;  he  took  command 
of  the  same  troops  which  his  predecessor,  Col.  Littlefield,  com- 
manded ;  at  the  moment  of  Col.  Burr's  arrival,  Col.  Littlefield 
had  returned  from  a  plundering  expedition  (for  to  plunder 
those  called  Tories  was  then  deemed  lawful),  and  had  brought 
up  horses,  cattle,  bedding,  clothing  and  other  articles  of  easy 
transportation,  which  he  had  proposed  to  distribtite  among  the 
party  the  next  day ;  Col.  Burr's  first  act  of  authority  was  to 
seize  and  secure  all  this  plunder,  and  he  immediately  took 
measures  for  restoring  it  to  the  owners ;  this  gave  us  much 
trouble,  but  it  was  abundantly  repaid  by  the  confidence  it  in- 
spired ;  he  then  made  known  his  determination  to  suppress 
plundering ;  the  same  day  he  visited  all  the  guards,  changed 
their  position,  dismissed  some  of  the  officers  whom  he  found 
totally  incompetent,  gave  new  instructions;  on  the  same  day, 
also,  he  commenced  a  register  of  the  names  and  characters  of 
all  who  resided  near  and  below  his  guards ;  distinguished  by 
secret  marks,  the  Whig,  the  timid  Whig,  the  Tory,  the  horse- 
thief,  and  those  concerned  in,  or  suspected  of  giving  informa- 
tion to  the  enemy ;  he  also  began  a  map  of  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort,  of  the  roads,  by-roads,  paths,  creeks,  mo- 
rasses, etc.,  which  might  become  hiding-places  for  the  disaf- 
fected, or  for  marauding  parties ;  this  map  was  made  by  Col 
Burr,  himself,  from  such  materials  as  he  could  collect  on  the 
spot,  but  principally  from  his  own  observation. 

He  raised  and  established  a  corps  of  horsemen  from  among 
the  respectable  farmers  and  young  men  of  the  country,  of  tried 
patriotism,  fidelity,  and  courage ;  these  also  served  as  aids  and 
confidential  persons  for  the  transmission  of  orders.  To  this 
corps  I  attached  myself  as  a  volunteer ;  but  did  not  receive 
nay.  He  employed  discreet  and  faithful  persons,  living  near 
the  euemy's  lines,  to  watch  their  motions,  and  give  him  imrne- 


APPENDIX.  419 

diate  intelligence.  He  employed  mounted  videttes  for  the 
same  purpose,  directing  two  of  them  to  proceed  together,  so 
that  one  might  he  dispatched,  if  necessary,  with  information 
to  the  colonel,  while  the  other  might  watch  the  enemy's  move- 
ment. He  established  signals  throughout  the  lines,  so  that 
whether  by  night  or  day,  instant  notice  could  be  had  of  an 
attack  or  movement  of  the  enemy.  He  enforced  various 
regulations  for  concealing  his  positions  and  force  from  the 
enemy. 

The  laxity  of  discipline  which  had  before  prevailed,  enabled 
the  enemy  frequently  to  employ  their  emissaries  to  come 
within  the  lines  and  to  learn  the  precise  state  of  our  forces, 
supplies,  etc.  Colonel  Burr  soon  put  an  end  to  these  danger- 
ous intrusions,  by  prohibiting  all  persons  residing  below  the 
lines,  except  a  few  whom  he  selected,  such  as  Parson  Bartow, 
Jacob  Smith,  and  others,  whose  integrity  was  unimpeachable, 
from  approaching  the  outposts  without  special  permission  for 
the  purpose.  If  any  one  had  a  complaint  or  request  to  make 
of  the  colonel,  he  procured  one  or  more  of  the  persons  he  had 
selected,  to  come  to  his  quarters  on  his  behalf;  this  measure 
prevented  frivolous  and  vexatious  applications,  and  the  still 
more  dangerous  approach  of  enemies  in  disguise.  All  these 
measures  were  entirely  new,  and  within  eight  or  ten  days  the 
whole  system  appeared  to  be  in  complete  operation,  and  the 
face  of  things  was  totally  changed. 

A  few  days  after  the  colonel's  arrival,  the  house  of  one  Ged- 
ney  was  plundered  in  the  night,  and  the  family  abused  and 
terrified.  Gedney  sent  his  son  to  make  a  representation  of  it 
to  the  colonel.  The  young  man  not  regarding  the  orders 
which  had  been  issued,  came  to  the  colonel's  quarters,  undis- 
covered by  the  sentinels,  having  taken  a  secret  path  through 
the  fields  for  the  purpose.  For  this  violation  of  orders  the 
young  man  was  punished.  The  colonel  immediately  took 
measures  for  the  detection  of  the  plunderers,  and  though  they 
were  all  disguised  and  wholly  unknown  to  Gedney,  yet  Colonel 
Burr,  by  means  which  were  never  yet  disclosed,  discovered  the 
plunderers,  and  had  them  all  secured  within  twenty-four  hours. 


414  APPENDIX. 

Gedney's  family,  on  reference  to  his  register,  appeared  to  1)6 
Tories,  but  Burr  had  promised  that  every  quiet  man  should  be 
protected. 

He  caused  the  robbers  to  be  conveyed  to  Gedney's  house, 
nucler  the  charge  of  Captain  Benson,  there  to  restore  the 
booty  they  h;id  taken ;  to  make  reparation  in  money  for  such 
articles  as  were  lost  or  damaged,  and  for  the  alarm  and  abuse, 
the  amount  of  which  the  colonel  assessed ;  to  be  flogged  ten 
lashes,  and  to  ask  pardon  of  the  old  man,  all  which  was  faith- 
fully and  immediately  executed. 

These  measures  gave  universal  satisfaction,  and  the  terror 
they  inspired  effectually  prevented  a  repetition  of  similar 
depredations.  From  this  day  plundering  ceased.  No  further 
instance  occurred  during  the  time  of  Colonel  Burr's  com- 
mand ;  for  it  was  universally  believed  that  Colonel  Burr  could 
tell  a  robber  by  looking  in  his  face,  or  that  he  had  supernatu- 
ral means  of  discovering  crime.  Indeed  I  was  myself  inclined 
to  these  opinions.  This  belief  was  contirmed  by  another  cir- 
cumstance which  had  previously  occurred.  On  the  day  of  his 
arrival,  after  our  return  from  visiting  the  posts,  conversing 
with  several  of  his  attendants,  and  among  others  Lieutenant 
Drake,  whom  Burr  had  brought  with  him  from  his  own  regi- 
ment, he  said  :  "  Drake,  that  post  on  the  North  River  will  be 
attacked  before  morning ;  neither  officers  nor  men  know  any- 
thing of  their  duty.  You  must  go  and  take  charge  of  it. 
Keep  your  eyes  open,  or  you  will  have  your  throat  cut." 
Drake  went.  The  post  was  attacked  that  night  by  a  company 
of  horse.  They  were  repulsed  with  loss.  Drake  returned  iu 
the  morning  with  trophies  of  war,  and  told  his  story.  \Ve 
stared  and  asked  one  another,  "How  could  Burr  know  that?" 
(for  he  had  not  then  established  any  means  of  intelligence.) 

The  measures  immediately  adopted  by  him  were  such  that 
it  was  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  have  passed  their  own 
lines  without  his  having  immediate  knowledge,  and  it  was 
these  very  measures  which  saved  Major  Hull,  on  whom  the 
command  devolved  for  a  short  time,  when  the  state  of  Colonel 
Burr's  health  compelled  him  to  retire. 


APPENDIX.  416 

These  measures,  together  with  the  deportment  of  Colonel 
Burr,  gained  him  the  love  and  veneration  of  all  devoted  to  th« 
common  cause,  and  conciliated  even  its  bitterest  foes.  Hia 
cabits  were  a  subject  of  admiration  :  his  diet  was  simple  and 
spare  in  the  extreme ;  seldom  sleeping  more  than  an  hour  at  a 
time,  and  without  taking  oft'  his  clothes  or  even  his  boots. 
Between  midnight  and  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  accompa- 
nied by  two  or  three  of  his  corps  of  horsemen,  he  visited  the 
quarters  of  all  his  captains,  and  their  picket  guards,  changing 
his  route  from  time  to  time,  to  prevent  notice  of  his  approach. 
You  may  judge  of  the  severity  of  this  duty  when  I  assure  you 
that  the  distance  which  he  thus  rode  every  night  must  have 
been  from  sixteen  to  twenty -four  miles,  and  that  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  nights  only  in  which  he  was  otherwise  engaged, 
he  never  omitted  thes«  excursions,  even  in  the  severest  and 
most  stormy  weather ;  and  except  the  short  time  necessarily 
consumed  in  hearing  and  answering  commands  and  petitions 
from  persons  both  above  and  below  the  lines,  Colonel  Burr 
was  constantly  with  the  .troops. 

He  attended  to  the  minutest  articles  of  their  comfort — to 
their  lodgings,  to  their  diet ;  for  those  off'  duty  he  invented 
eports,  all  tending  to  some  useful  end.  During  two  or  three 
weeks  after  the  colonel's  arrival,  we  had  many  sharp  conflicts 
with  the  robbers  and  horse  thieves,  who  were  hunted  down 
with  unceasing  industry.  In  many  instances  we  encountered 
great  superiority  of  numbers ;  but  always  with  success,  ^huiy 
of  them  were  killed  and  many  taken. 

The  strictest  discipline  prevailed,  and  the  army  felt  the 
fullest  confidence  in  their  commander  and  in  themselves,  and 
by  these  means  became  really  formidable  to  the  enemy.  Dur- 
ing the  same  winter  Governor  Tryon  planned  an  expedition 
to  Horseueck, 'for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  salt-works 
erected  there,  and  marched  with  about  two  thousand  men. 
Colonel  Burr  received  early  information  of  tbeir  movements, 
and  sent  word  to  General  Putnam  to  hold  the  enemy  at  bay 
for  a  few  hours,  and  he  (Colonel  Burr)  would  be  in  their  rear, 
tiud  be  answerable  for  them.  By  a  messenger  from  him,  Col, 


416  APPEJOJIX. 

Burr  was  informed  by  that  general,  that  he  had  been  obliged 
to  retreat,  and  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  into  Connecti- 
cut. This  information,  which  unfortunately  was  not  correct, 
altered  Colonel  Burr's  route  toward  Mamaroneck,  which  ena- 
bled Tryon  to  get  the  start  of  him.  Colonel  Bun  then 
endeavored  to  intercept  him  in  Eastchester,  according  to  his 
first  plan,  and  actually  got  within  cannon  shot  of  him.  But 
Tryon  run  too  fast,  and  in  his  haste  left  most  or  all  of  his  cat- 
tle and  plunder  behind  him,  and  many  stragglers  who  wero 
picked  up. 

I  will  mention  another  enterprise  which  proved  more  suc- 
cessful, though  equally  hazardous.  Soon  after  Tryon's  retreat, 
Colonel  Delancy,  who  commanded  the  British  ictugees,  in 
order  to  secure  themselves  against  surprise,  erected  a  block 
house  on  a  rising  ground  below  Delancy's  Bridge.  This  Col. 
Burr  resolved  to  destroy.  I  was  in  that  expedition,  and  recol- 
lect the  circumstances. 

He  procured  a  number  of  hand-grenades,  also  rolls  of  port- 
lire,  and  canteens  filled  with  inflammable  materials,  with  con- 
trivances to  attach  them  to  the  side  of  the  block-house.  He 
set  out  with  his  troops  early  in  the  evening,  and  arrived  within 
a  mile  of  the  block-house  by  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
colonel  gave  Captain  Black  the  command  of  about  forty  vol- 
unteers, who  were  first  to  approach.  Twenty  of  them  were 
to  carry  the  port-fires,  etc.,  etc.  Those  who  had  hand-grenade8 
had  short  ladders  to  enable  them  to  reach  the  port-holes,  the 
exact  height  of  which  Colonel  Burr  had  ascertained.  Colonel 
Burr  gave  Captain  Black  his.  instructions  in  the  hearing  of 
his  company,  assuring  him  of  his  protection  if  they  were  at- 
tacked by  superior  numbers  ;  for  it  was  expected  that  the 
enemy,  who  had  several  thousand  men  at  and  near  King's 
Bridge,  would  endeavor  to  cut  us  off,  as  we  were  several  miles 
below  them.  Burr  directed  those  who  carried  the  combusti- 
bles to  march  in  front  as  silently  as  possible;  that  on  being 
hailed,  they  should  light  the  hand-grenades,  etc..  w'«th  a  slow 
match  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  throw  them  into  the  port- 
holes. I  was  one  of  the  party  that  advanced.  The  sentinel 


APFE3TD1X.  417 

bailed  and  fired.  We  rushed  on.  The  first  hand-grenade  that 
was  thrown  in  drove  the  enemy  from  the  upper  story,  and  be- 
fore they  could  take  any  measure  to  defend  it,  the  block-house 
was  on  fire  in  several  places.  Some  few  escaped,  and  the  rest 
surrendered  without  our  having  lost  a  single  man.  Though 
many  shots  were  fired  at  us,  we  did  not  fire  a  gun. 

During  the  period  of  Colonel  Burr's  command,  but  two  at- 
tempts were  made  by  the  enemy  to  surprise  our  guards,  in 
both  of  which  they  were  defeated. 

After  Colonel  Burr  left  this  command,  Colonel  Thompson, 
a  man  of  approved  bravery,  assumed  it,  and  the  enemy,  in 
open  day,  advanced  to  his  head-quarters,  took  Colonel  Thomp- 
son, and  took  and  killed  all  his  men  with  the  exception  of  about 
thirty. 

My  father's  house,  with  all  his  out-houses  were  burnt.  After 
these  disasters,  our  troops  never  made  an  effort  to  protect  that 
part  of  the  country.  The  AmeVican  lines  were  afterward 
changed  and  extended  from  Bedford  to  Croton  Bridge,  and 
from  there,  following  the  course  of  that  river,  to  the  Hudson. 
All  the  intermediate  country  was  ab.'^idoned  and  unprotected, 
being  about  twenty  miles  in  the  ;  ear  of  the  ground  which 
Colonel  Burr  had  maintained. 

The  year  after  the  defeat  of  Colonel  Thompson,  Colonel 
Green,  a  brave,  and  in  many  respects  a  valuable  officer,  took 
the  command,  making  his  head-quarters  at  Danfords,  about  a 
iniie  above  the  Croton.  This  position  was  well  chosen ;  but 
Colonel  Green  omitted  to  inform  himself  of  the  movements 
of  the  enemy,  and,  consequently,  was  surprised.  Himself, 
Major  Flagg,  and  other  officers  were  killed,  and  a  great  part 
of  the  men  were  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners ;  yet  these 
officers  had  the  full  benefit  of  Colonel  Burr's  system.  , 

Having  perused  what  I  have  written,  it  does  not  appear  to 
me  that  I  have  conveyed  any  adequate  idea  of  Burr's  military 
character.  It  may  be  aided  a  little  by  reviewing  the  effects  he 
produced.  The  troops  of  which  he  took  command  were,  at 
the  time  he  took  the  command,  undisciplined,  negligent,  and 

18* 


418  APPENDIX. 

discontented  ;  desertions  were  frequent.  In  a  few  days  thes« 
very  men  were  transformed  into  brave  and  honest  defenders — 
orderly,  contented,  and  cheerful,  confident  in  their  own 
courage,  and  loving  to  adoration  their  commander,  whom 
e^ery  man  considered  as  his  personal  friend.  It  WOM  thought 
u  severe  punishment  as  well  as  a  disgrace  to  be  sent  up  to  the 
camp,  where  they  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  lounge  and  eat 
their  rations. 

During  the  whole  of  his  command,  there  was  not  a  single 
desertion ;  not  a  single  death  by  sickness ;  not  one  made 
prisoner  by  the  enemy  ;  for  Burr  had  taught  us  that  a  soldier 
with  arms  in  his  hand  ought  never,  under  any  circumstances, 
to  surrender;  no  matter  it'  he  was  opposed  to  thousands,  it 
was  his  duty  to  fight. 

After  the  first  ten  days,  there  was  not  a  single  instance  of 
robbery.  The  whole  country  under  his  command  enjoyed  se- 
curity. The  inhabitants,  to  express  their  gratitude,  frequently 
brought  presents  of  such  articles  as  the  country  afforded  ;  but 
Colonel  Burr  would  accept  no  present.  He  fixed  reasonable 
prices,  and  paid  in  cash  for  everything  that  was  received,  and 
sometimes  I  know  that  these  payments  were  made  with  his 
own  money.  Whether  these  advances  were  repaid,  I  know 
not. 

Colonel  Simcoe,  one  of  the  most  daring  and  active  partisans 
In  the  British  army,  was,  with  Colonels  Emerick  and  Deluacy, 
opposed  to  Burr  on  the  lines,  yet  they  were  completely  held  in 
check. 

But  perhaps  the  highest  eulogy  on  Colonel  Burr  is,  that  no 
man  could  be  found  capable  of  executing  his  plans,  though  the 
example  was  before  them. 

When  Burr  left  the  lines  a  sadness  overspread  the  country, 
and  the  most  gloomy  forebodings  were  too  soon  fulfilled,  as  you 
have  seen  above. 

The  period  of  Colonel  Burr's  command  was  so  full  of  acti- 
vity and  of  incident,  that  every  day  afforded  some  new  lesson 
o  instruction. 


APPENDIX.  410 

Btt  yon  will  expect  only  a  general  outline,  and  this  faint  ou« 
is  the  best  in  my  power  to  give. 

I  am,  with  real  esteem, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  SAMUEL  Yorse. 


MARGARET  MONCRIEFFE,  GENERAL  PUTNAM,  AND 
AARON  BURR. 

From  Parian's  Life  of  Aaron  £urr,  pp.  88-95. 

At  Kingsbridge,  about  the  date  of  this  letter,*  Burr  was 
engaged  in  an  adventure  little  in  harmony  with  the  warlike 
scenes  around  him. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  "War  found  a  number 
of  British  officers  domesticated  among  the  colonists,  and  con- 
nected with  them  by  marriage.  In  New  York  and  the  other 
garrisoned  towns,  officers  of  the  army  led  society,  as  military 
men  still  do  in  every  garrisoned  town  in  the  world.  "When 
hostilities  began,  and  every  man  was  ordered  to  bis  post,  some 
of  these  officers  left  their  families  residing  among  the  people  ; 
and  it  happened,  in  a  few  instances,  that  the  events  of  war 
carried  a  father  far  away  from  his  wife  and  children,  never 
to  rejoin  them.  The  future  Scott  of  America  will  know 
how  to  make  all  this  very  familiar  to  the  American  people 
by  the  romantic  and  pathetic  fictions  which  it  will  suggest 
to  him. 

Margaret  Moncrieffe,  a  girl  of  fourteen,  but  a  woman  in  de- 
velopment and  appetite,  witty,  vivacious,  piquant,  and  beauti- 
ful, had  been  left  at  Elizabethtown,  in  New  Jersey,  by  her 
father,  Major  Moncrieffe,  who  was  then  with  his  regiment  on 
Staten  Island,  and  of  course  cut  off  from  communication  with 
his  daughter.  Destitute  of  resources,  and  anxious  to  rejoin 
her  father,  she  wrote  to  General  Putnam  for  his  advice  and 

•  September,  1776. 


420  APPENDIX. 

assistance.  General  Putnam  received  her  letter  in  New  York 
about  the  time  that  Major  Burr  joined  him,  and  1m  reply  was 
prepared  for  his  signature  by  the  hand  of  his  new  aid-de-camp. 
The  good  old  general  declared  in  this  letter  that  he  was  her 
father's  enemy,  indeed,  as  an  officer,  but  as  a  man,  his  friend, 
and  ready  to  do  any  good  office  for  him  or  his.  He  invited 
her  to  come  and  reside  in  his  family  until  arrangements  could 
be  made  for  sending  her  to  Staten  Island.  She  consented,  an 
officer  was  sent  to  conduct  her  to  the  city,  and  she  was  at 
once  established  in  General  Putnam's  house.  There  she  met 
and  became  intimate  with  Major  Burr. 

What  followed  from  their  intimacy  has  been  stated  variously. 
Great  indeed  was  my  astonishment,  on  recurring  to  the  work 
itself,*  to  find  that  her  narrative,  read  in  connection,  not  only 
affords  no  support  to  Mr.  Davis'  insinuations,  but  explicitly, 
and  twice,  contradicts  them.  It  is  known  and  conceded  that 
the  young  officer  whom  she  extols  in  such  passionate  lan- 
guage, and  whom  she  miscalls  "  colonel,"  was  Major  Burr. 
Thus  writes  Mrs.  Coughlan,  nee  Moncrieffe: 

"  When  I  arrived  in  Broadway  (a  street  so  called),  where 
General  Putnam  resided,  I  was  received  with  great  tender- 
ness, both  by  Mrs.  Putnam  and  her  daughters,  and  on  the 
following  day  I  was  introduced  by  them  to  General  and  Mrs. 
Washington,  who  likewise  made  it  their  study  to  show  me 
every  mark  of  regard  ;  but  I  seldom  was  allowed  to  be  alone, 
although  sometimes,  indeed,  I  found  an  opportunity  to  escape 
to  the  gallery  on  the  top  of  the  house,  where  my  chief  delight 
•was  to  view,  with  a  telescope,  our  fleet  and  army  on  Staten 
Island.  My  amusements  were  few ;  the  good  Mrs.  Putnam 
employed  me  and  her  daughters  constantly  to  spin  tiax  for 
Bhirts  for  the  American  soldiers,  indolence,  in  America,  being 
totally  discouraged ;  and  I  likewise  worked  for  General  Put- 
nam, .  who,  though  not  an  accomplished  muscadin,  like  our 
dilettanti  of  St.  James'  street,  was  certainly  one  of  the  best 
characters  in  the  world,  his  heart  being  composed  of  thus* 

•  Memoirs  of  Maj  r  Coughlan,  published  by  Swords.  New  YortL 


421 

noble  materials  which  equally  command  respect  and  admira- 
tion. 

******** 

"  Not  long  after  tliis  circumstance,  a  flag  of  truce  arrived 
from  Staten  Island,  with  letters  from  Major  Moncrieffe,  de- 
manding me,  for  they  now  considered  me  as  a  prisoner. 
General  Washington  would  not  acquiesce  in  this  demand,  say- 
ing '  that  I  should  remain  a  hostage  for  my  father's  good  be- 
havior.' I  must  here  observe,  that  when  General  Washing- 
ton refused  to  deliver  me  up,  the  noble-minded  Putnam,  as  if 
it  were  by  instinct,  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword,  and,  with  a  vio- 
lent oath,  swore  '  that  my  father's  request  should  be  granted.' 
The  commander-in-chief,  whose  influence  governed  the  Con- 
gress, soon  prevailed  on  them  to  consider  me  as  a  person  whose 
situation  required  their  strict  attention ;  and  that  I  might  not 
escape,  they  ordered  me  to  Kingsbridge,  where,  in  justice, 
I  must  say,  that  I  was  treated  with  the  utmost  tenderness. 
General  Mifflin  there  commanded.  His  lady  was  a  most  ac- 
complished, beautiful  woman — a  Quaker.  And  here  my  heart 
received  its  first  impression — an  impression  that,  amidst  the 
subsequent  shocks  which  it  has  received,  has  never  been 
effaced,  and  which  rendered  me  very  unfit  to  admit  the  em- 
braces of  an  unfeeling,  brutish  husband. 

"  O,  may  these  pages  one  day  meet  the  eye  of  him*  who 
subdued  my  virgin  heart,  whom  the  immutable,  unerring  laws 
of  nature  had  pointed  out  for  my  husband,  but  whose  sacred 
decree  the  barbarous  customs  of  society  fatally  violated.  To 
him  I  ptighted  my  virgin  vow,  and  I  shall  never  cease  to 
lament  that  obedience  to  a  father  left  it  incomplete.  When 
I  reflect  on  my  past  sufferings,  now  that,  alas !  my  present 
sorrows  press  heavily  upon  me,  1  cannot  refrain  from  expati- 
ating a  little  on  the  inevitable  horrors  which  ever  attend  the 
frustration  of  natural  affections :  I  myself,  who,  unpitied  by 
the  world,  have  endured  every  calamity  that  human  nature 
Knows,  <ur.  a  melancholy  example  of  this  truth ;  for  if  I  know 

*  CoL  Aaron  Burr. 


422  APPENDIX. 

my  own  heart  it  is  far  better  calculated  for  the  purer  jo)  8  of 
domestic  life,  thai:  for  the  hurricane  of  extravagance  and  dis- 
sipation in  which  I  have  been  wrecked. 

"  Why  is  the  will  of  nature  so  often  perverted  ?  Why  ia 
social  happiness  forever  sacrificed  at  the  altar  of  prejudice  ? 
Avarice  has  usurped  the  throne  of  reason,  and  the  affections 
of  the  heart  are  not  consulted.  We  cannot  command  our  de- 
sires, and  when  the  object  of  our  being  is  unattained,  misery 
must  be  necessarily  our  doom.  Let  this  truth,  therefore,  be 
forever  remembered  :  when  once  an  affection  has  rooted  itself 
in  a  tender,  constant  heart,  no  time,*  no  circumstance  can 
eradicate  it.  Unfortunate,  then,  are  they  who  are  joined,  if 
their  hearts  are  not  matched ! 

"  With  this  conqueror  of  my  soul,  how  happy  should  I  now 
have  been !  What  storms  and  tempests  should  I  have  avoided 
(at  least  I  am  pleased  to  think  so)  if  I  had  been  allowed  to 
follow  the  bent  of  my  inclinations  !  and  happier,  O,  ten  thou- 
sand times  happier  should  I  have  been  with  him,  in  the  wildest 
desert  of  our  native  country,  the  woods  affording  us  our  only 
shelter,  and  their  fruits  our  only  repast,  than  under  the  canopy 
of  costly  state,  with  all  the  refinements  and  embellishments 
of  courts,  with  the  royal  warrior  who  would  fain  have  proved 
himself  the  conqueror  of  France. 

"  My  conqueror  was  engaged  in  another  cause,  he  was  am- 
bitious to  obtain  other  laurels :  he  fought  to  liberate,  not  to 
enslave  nations.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  American  army,  and 
high  in  the  estimation  of  his  country  :  his  victories  were  never 
accompanied  with  one  gloomy,  relenting  thought ;  they  shone 
as  bright  as  the  cause  which  achieved  them !  I  had  communi- 
cated by  letter  to  General  Putnam  the  proposals  of  this  gen- 
tleman, with  my  determination  to  accept  them,  and  I  was 
embarrassed  by  the  answer  which  the  general  returned;  he 
entreated  me  to  remember  that  the  person  in  question,  from 
his  political  principles,  was  extremely  obnoxious  to  my  father, 
and  concluded  by  observing,  '  that  I  surely  must  not  unite 
myself  with  a  man  who  would  not  hesitate  to  drench  his 
•word  in  the  blood  of  my  nearest  relation,  should  he  be  op- 


APPENDIX.  428 

posed  to  him  in  battle.'  Saying  this,  he  lamented  the  neces- 
sity of  giving  advice  contrary  to  his  own  sentiments,  since  in 
every  other  respect  he  considered  the  match  as  unexception- 
able." 

According  to  a  story  told  by  the  late  Colonel  "W.  L.  Stone 
(author  of  the  "  Life  of  Brant ''),  it  was  no  other  than  Burr 
himself.  Before  her  arrival  at  General  Putnam's,  it  appears 
that  Burr,  though  he  was  delighted  with  her  wit  and  vivacity, 
conceived  the  idea  that  she  might  be  a  British  spy ;  and.  as  he 
was  looking  over  her  shoulder  one  day,  while  she  was  paint- 
ing a  bouquet,  the  suspicion  darted  into  his  mind  that  she  was 
using  the  u  language  of  flowers  "  for  the  purpose  of  conveying 
intelligence  to  the  enemy.  He  communicated  his  suspicion  to 
Gencnil  Washington,  who  thought  it  only  prudent  to  remove 
her  a  few  miles  further  inland,  to  the  quarters  of  General 
Mifflin ;  where,  after  the  evacuation  of  the  city,  Burr  met  her 
again,  and,  as  she  says,  won  her  virgin  affections.  Colonel 
Stone  was  very  intimate  with  Burr  in  his  later  years,  and 
had  long  conversations  with  him  about  Revolutionary  times. 
He  may  have  derived  this  pretty  tale  from  Burr  himself. 


PARAGRAPH   RELATING   TO   MARGARET  MON- 

CRIEFFE. 

From  a  New  York  Newspaper  of  July,  1846. 

During  the  Revolutionary  "War,  there  was  an  extraordinary 
lady,  highly  gifted  and  beautiful,  who  made  a  great  noise  at 
that  time,  by  the  name  of  Moncriefi'e,  who  subsequently  wrote 
her  memoirs,  which  will  be  found  in  the  City  Library.  While 
she  was  riding  on  horseback  near  our  lines,  with  a  servant, 
ehe  was  taken  prisoner  and  brought  to  West  Point,  her  father 
being  a  major  in  the  British  service,  and  a  distinguished 
engineer.  She  was  detained  as  a  prisoner  by  General  Put- 
nam. An  American  officer  of  any  rank,  she  said,  would  bo 
(jiven  for  her.  She  commenced  drawing  flowers  for  h«f 


424  APPEXDIX. 

amusement,  wh.'.ch  were  executed  with  great  taste  and  skill, 
and  presented  them  to  General  Putnam.  She  drew  some  also 
for  her  own  purposes.  In  this  manner  her  time  was  occupied 
for  several  days,  promenading  the  walks  wheresoever  eho 
thought  proper.  Col.  Burr,  aid  to  Putnam,  was  ahsent  dur- 
ing this  period.  On  his  return  to  camp,  these  specimens  of 
the  lady's  taste  and  talent  were  shown  to  him.  He  requested 
the  favor  of  heing  shown  all  that  she  had  drawn  for  her  own 
use.  They  were  promptly  produced.  After  being  entirely 
satisfied  that  he  had  them  all  in  his  possession,  he  remarked 
that  they  were  so  beautiful,  and  so  admirably  executed,  that 
he  could  not  part  with  them.  At  or  about  this  time,  the 
works  at  West  Point  had  undergone  great  improvement  and 
repairs,  under  the  superintendence  of  a  French  engineer.  On 
retiring  from  the  presence  of  Miss  Moncrieffe,  Col.  Burr  ex- 
hibited to  General  Putnam,  and  the  other  officers,  who  had 
paid  no  attention  to  the  drawings,  some  faint  lines  under  the 
flowers  which  the  lady  had  painted — that  those  lines,  when 
connected,  was  a  complete  draft  of  all  the  works,  as  recently 
improved,  and  which  she  intended  to  bear  off  to  the  camp  of 
the  enemy.  Her  capture  was  premeditaW.  Miss  MoncrieiTe 
was  a  regular  spy  in  petticoats.  She  was  sent  down  to  New 
York,  and  staid  at  head-quarters,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway 
and  the  Battery  ;  but  she  was  so  close  an  observer  of  every- 
thing going  on,  that  the  commanding  general  had  to  send  her 
to  her  father,  who  was  with  the  British  troops  in  New 
Jersey. 


€OL.  BURR   DENIES   CLAIMING  PROTECTION  AS  A 
BRITISH  SUBJECT. 

"  NBW  TOM,  2Stt  July,  1818. 
"  SIB  :  "When  interrupted  this  morning,  I  was  about  to  say 

to  B that  when  abroad  in  whatever  part  of  the  World,  ] 

always  defended  and  eulogized  our  political  and  municipal 
institutions.    It  was  often  objected  to  me  that  I  myself  had 


APPEXDIX.  425 

been  a  victim  of  Democratic  rage.  Is  there  any  other  GoTern- 
raent  in  the  World  under  which  only  one  man  out  of  5,000,000 
can  complain  of  oppression  ?  If  not,  a  single  instance  proves 
nothing  against  the  forms  of  Government.  A  reply  which  is 
more  suited  to  silence,  though  perhaps  without  convincing  the 
objector. 

"Another  rumor  which  has  been  industriously  circu- 
lated, may  have  appeared  to  you  more  probable,  to  wit, 
that  I  had  claimed  protection  as  a  British  subject,  hav- 
ing had  some  difficulty  with  the  Home  Department,  (then 
Lord  Liverpool's)  about  passports  and  permission  to  travel 
(which  terminated  in  my  imprisonment  and  banishment). 

"  It  was  strongly  recommended  to  me  by  a  man  of  very  high 
consideration,  enjoying  an  important  place  under  Government, 
but  hating  personally  Lord  Liverpool,  to  defend  myself  against 
his  persecutions,  by  claiming  my  birth -right  as  a  British  sub- 
ject. It  was  presumed  that  I  would  cheerfully  seize  this 
mode  to  disengage  myself  from  thraldom,  and  to  mortify  and 
if  I  should  please,  to  punish  Lord  Liverpool. 

"  It  became  a  topic  of  conversation,  and  many  distinguished 
persons  took  a  very  lively  interest  in  the  question.  A  very 
profound,  and  learned  argument  of  60  octavo  pages,  tracing 
the  law  from  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror  to  the  then 
present  day  (1808)  was  drawn  up  for  the  occasion  by  one  of 
the  ablest  and  most  celebrated  Lawyers  in  the  British  domi- 
nions, and  put  into  my  hands.  My  rights  were  Demonstrated 
beyond  a  doubt.  /  refuted  to  suffer  myself  to  be  called  a 
British  subject,  for  a,  single  day  ;  for  any  purpose,  under 
any  c  ire  um  stances;  nor  did  I  at  any  moment  twelve  from  thit 
determination" 

The  letter  from  which  the  above  is  extracted,  was  addressed 
to  his  tried  and  intimate  friend,  Erie  Bolman,  Esq.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  has  been  very  strangely  overlooked  by  M.  I* 
Davis,  and  Parton. 


APPENDIX  II. 


LETTERS  OF  COL.  BURR  TO  "KATE." 

Ain>  •*>  my  dear  Kate  has  come  a  little  nearer.  I  do 
think  I  shall  call  one  of  these  days  and  take  a  dish  of  tea 
with  you,  and  be  off  again  in  half  an  hour ;  in  the  meantime 
I  want  to  be  a  little  better  acquainted  with  you  and  the 
brats;  tell  me  their  ages  and  what  they  are  like,  and  be  a 
little  more  communicative  about  your  pretty  self ;  have  you 
grown  fat  or  lean,  or  neither  ?  Est  ce  que  tu  es  toujoura  "belief  JA 
veux  que  ma  niece  soit  toujours  "belle ;  now  if  you  dare  grow 
ugly,  Lord,  how  I  will  hate  you  ? 
9,1st,  August,  1812. 


MY  DEAR  KATE:  While  I  read  your  letter,  I  seem  to  heat 
the  sound  of  that  soft  voice  which  has  so  often  charmed  me. 
How  I  wish  you  were  near  me  to  help  me  dispel  this  gloom 
that  threatens  to  subdue  my  soul ;  indeed  my  dear  creature,  I 
am  fit  for  nothing. 

Your  offer  of  a  refuge  for  a  victim  of  despair,  is  kind  and 
considerate,  but  alas,  I  fear  the  subject  of  it  will  smile  under 
the  weight  of  his  afflictions. 

Excuse  me,  my  lovely  friend ;  in  a  few  days  I  will  write  you 


ra  February,  1818. 

MT  DEAR  KATE  :  I  have  received  your  letter  of  yesterday, 
bat  not  in  season  to  answer  by  return  of  mail. 

436 


APPENDIX.  42* 

Theodosia  sailed  from  Georgetown,  S.  0.,  on  the  30th,  Dec., 
being  thirty-eight  days  ago,  in  the  pilot  boat  schooner,  the 
Patriot,  Capt.  Soustocks ;  since  that  day  nothing  has  been 
heard  of  her,  nor  of  the  vessel,  and  I  am  filled  with  the  most 
gloomy  apprehensions;  my  hope  is,  that  the  vessel  may  have 
been  taken  and  carried  into  Bermuda,  where,  I  have  every 
reason  to  believe,  she  would  be  treated  with  respect  and  hos- 
pitality ;  but  indeed  I  am  wretched,  and  the  utter  impossibility 
of  doing  anything  for  her  relief  or  my  own,  makes  me  still 
more  so.  When  or  how  this  dreadful  suspense  will  terminate, 
God  only  knows. 


LETTER  OF   COL.  BURR  TO  ELIZA. 

Your  little  letter  of  the  16th,  my  dear  Eliza,  is  full  of  conso- 
lation and  goodness,  and  now  you  are  away,  God  knows  where ; 
Julia  condescended  to  seek  me ;  she  won't  do  at  all ;  sense 
without  refinement — passion  without  sentiment — point  de  tact 
— the  acquaintance  is  dropped  ;  my  two  most  useful  and  most 
intimate  friends  are  sexagenaires. 

I  have  seen  our  little  coz.,  Cora,  a  fine,  plump,  rosy-cheeked, 
black-eyed  girl,  very  pretty,  and  what  the  men  would  call 
desirable ;  plays  and  sings  well,  and  is  graceful  in  her  manner ; 
plus  anglaise  que  fraiifaise ;  she  has  neither  money  nor  pro- 
tection to  undertake  the  journey  proposed,  yet  she  would  suit 
that  market ;  Mille  chases  d  notre  ohere  cousine. 

The  last  letter  of  Min  distracts  me,  yet  I  augur  some  good 
from  your  visit,  it  was  very,  very  kind ;  alas !  my  sister,  I  find 
nothing  here  like  you  ;  the  more  I  compare  you  with  the  best 
I  see  (and  I  see  the  lest)  the  more  I  prize  you ;  our  brother 
writes  me  that  your  affairs  have  been  neglected  since  the 
absence  of  your  friend;  curse  their  hollow  hearts  and  treach- 
erous promises ;  but  persevere,  and  let  me  have  the  happmet'H 
to  know  that  two  dear  friends  are  happy. 
Oetober  thi  ith. 


428  APPENDIX. 

LETTER  FROM  LEONORA  TO  AARON  BURK. 

In  a  postscript  to  Gov.  Alston,  t«e  night  before  the  duel 

with  Gen.  Hamilton,  Burr  says :    "  If  yon  can  pardon  and 

indulge  a  folly,   I   would  suggest  that  Madame    ,    too 

well  known  under  the  name  of  *  Leonora,'  has  claims  on  my 
recollection.  She  is  now  with  her  husband  at  St.  Jago,  of 
Cuba." 

The  following  letter  is  from  "  Leonora "  to  A.  Burr,  the 
orthography  of  which  is  strictly  adhered  to : 

CAPK  FmAKCois,  HATTI,  May  6tt,  1818. 

I  Lave  so  much  to  relate  of  all  that  I  have  seen,  heard,  and 
done  since  my  arrival  in  this  country,  that  I  am  at  a  loss 
where  to  begin,  finding  myself  in  a  world  where  the  customs, 
language,  dress  &  manners  were  so  different  from  that  which 
I  had  left.  I  was  at  first  dazzled  &  bewildered,  but  on  a  nearer 
view  1  beheld  the  passing  scene  with  a  cooler  eye  &  I  almost 
despis'd — not  the  climate,  oh  no,  this  charming  climate  where 
smiling  spring  &  laughing  summer  dance  their  eternal  round. 
I  cannot  describe  the  effect  it  has  on  me,  the  nights  in  par- 
ticular, love-inspiring  nights ! — but  love  was  never  known  in 
this  desolated  country,  perhaps  no  one  was  ever  so  sensible  of 
this  truth  as  myself — but  more  of  this  anon. 

Almost  a  year  has  passed  since  I  arrived  here,  during 
which  time  I  have  been  coop'd  up  in  the  hollow  bason  in 
which  the  town  is  built,  for  there  is  no  means  of  going  a  mile 
in  any  direction  beyond  it  without  I  chose  to  make  a  sortie* 
on  the  brigands  which  I  have  not  yet  determined  on — when 
I  was  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  continent,  do  you  recollect 
having  told  me,  that  order  would  be  established  here  in  less 
than  three  weeks  after  my  arrival— alas  we  have  beheld 
months  after  months  passing  away  &  we  are  still  far  from  that 
tranquility  so  much  desired — when  Toussaint  was  arrested  it 
was  sappos'd  the  war  was  finish'd  &  it  would  have  been  had 


APPENDIX.  429 

vigorous  measures  been  immediately  pursued,  but  general 
ie  Clerc  was  without  energy — tormented  by  jealousy  for  his 
wife,  deceived  by  his  officers,  impos'd  on  by  the  black  chiefs 
with  whom  he  was  alway  in  conference,  he  saw  himself  on 
the  point  of  being  made  prisoner  by  the  Negroes,  &  in  tho 
danger  which  his  own  imprudence  had  occasion'd,  incapable 
of  forming  any  project  of  defence,  he  only  thought  of  saving 
himself  by  evacuating  the  place — this  he  was  prevented  doing 
by  the  admiral  la  touche  <fe  the  efforts  of  the  garde  national 
which  had  been  organized  but  a  few  days  before,  repelled  the 
Negroes  &  saved  the  Cape — 

the  next  day  he  gave  a  dinner  to  the  officers  of  the  garde 
national,  made  them  a  long  speech  (they  say  he  was  eloquent) 
and  then  died  of  a  fever  two  or  three  days  after,  it  was  tho 
best  thins  he  could  do,  for  if  he  had  continued  alive  he  would 
have  liv'd  dishonor'd — 

I  was  presented  to  his  wife  a  few  days  before  the  attack 
she's  small,  with  a  common,  laughing  face,  that  announces 
neither  dignity,  nor  wit,  and  I  who  have  always  thought  that 
people  in  superior  situations  should  be  superior  to  common 
people,  was  surpris'd  to  find  nothing  extraordinary  in  the 
sister  of  Bonaparte — I  gave  her  the  Medal  of  Jefferson  wh:ch 
I  suppose  will  figure  in  the  collection  of  Medals  at  Paris — I' 
saw  her  but  once  for  she  received  nobody  living  retired  at  a 
plantation  on  the  mountain — that  is  she  received  no  ladies, 
foul  mouth'd  fame  says  she  was  far  from  cruel  to  Gen'l  Boyer 
and  all  the  etat  major, — however  when  her  husband  died,  she 
cut  off  her  hair  (which  was  very  beautiful)  to  put  in  his  coffin 
&  play'd  so  well  the  part  of  a  disconsolate  widow,  that  she 
made  every  body  laugh — after  having  had  him  embalrn'd  sho 
embarked  with  his  lov'd  remains  for  france,  where  she  is  (as  I 
suppose  you  kno\v)  arriv'd — 

general  Eochambau,  who  was  then  commandant  at  port  an 
prince,  was  sent  for  to  take  the  command  here,  till  a  captain 
general  should  be  nam'd, — he  came,  and  here  commences  the 
adventures  of  Clara — do  you  recollect  her?  that  Clara  you 
once  lov'd — She  came  to  St  douiingo  about  the  time  I  did, 


430  APPENDIX. 

and  at  first  liv'd  tranquilly  enough  with  her  husband— bu4 
you  know  she  never  lov'd  him  &  he  was  jealous,  and  some- 
times render'd  her  miserable — but  the  general  arriv'd  and  the 
scene  was  chang'd — 

Apropos  of  Clara,  you  would  not  know  her,  positively  not, 
the  climate  has  had  on  her  an  effect  quite  miraculous,  she  has 
acquired  a  degree  of  enbonpoint  that  renders  her  charming, 
she  has  grown  fairer  and  her  black  hair  arrang'd  a  la  greque 
gives  her  an  air  truly  interesting  her  person  even  in  your 
land  of  beauty  was  found  passable  but  here  it  is  regarded  as  a 
model  of  perfection — the  general  soon  after  his  arrival  gave  ft 
ball,  Clara  was  invited  and  went,  but  in  the  crowd  she 
attracted  general  notice  without  attracting  the  notice  of  the 
general — the  week  following  the  admiral  la  touche  gave  a 
ball  on  board  his  Vessel,  Clara  was  there  &  there  began  her 
empire  like  that  of  Venus  rising  from  the  waves — the  Ball  was 
superb  the  whole  length  of  the  vessel  was  levell'd  with  a  talse 
floor  and  cover'd  with  a  painted  awuing,  ornamented  with 
wreaths  of  natural  flowers,  with  glasses  &  with  lights  beyond 
number — the  seats  were  enclosed  by  beautiful  palisades  &  the 
orchestra  was  plac'd  in  a  gallery  surrounding  the  main  mast — 
you  must  observe  that  the  Creole  women  have  no  taste  for 
dress,  they  cover  themselves  from  head  to  foot,  &  tue  very 
few  French  women  that  are  here,  have  follow'd  the  army  & 
know  very  little  of  taste  or  fashion — 

here  then  was  the  Theatre  on  which  Clara  exhibited  for 
the  first  time,  where  she  distanc'd  all  her  rivals.  Dressed 
with  a  licence  which  can  be  authoriz'd  only  by  the  heat  (for 
she  was  almost  naked)  she  was  led  round  the  room  by  an 
officer,  where  as  a  belle-femme  and  a  stranger  her  vanity  was 
fully  gratified  by  the  buzzes  of  admiration,  her  husband  de- 
lighted by  the  splendor  of  what  he  deem'd  his  property  fol- 
low'd her  at  a  small  distance,  at  length  she  was  seated,  but 
rous'd  from  her  contemplation  of  surrounding  objects  by  a 
flourish  of  music  she  turn'd  her  eyes  to  the  door  &  saw  the 
general  who  enter'd  at  that  moment,  this  moment  was  dwi- 
si  -e,  he  caught  her  eye,  and  saw  for  that  night  nothing  hwl 


APPENDIX.  431 

herself—  when  the  first  dance  was  finish'd,  which  she  did  not 
join  (she  walk'd  again)  her  husband  following  as  before,  the 
general  stopp'd  him  and  ask'd  who  is  that  Lady — Madama 

.  replied  he — is  she  not  a  stranger  ? — yes  an  american — 

she's  a  charming  creature  (continued  the  general)  but  where's 
her  husband  ?  they  say  he's  very  jealous,  and  bien  sot  (?  )-- 
Monsieur  le  viola  (answer'd  the  husband)  &  the  general  was  a 
little  disconcerted— as  this  conversation  finish'd  the  walse 
began,  he  who  has  not  seen  Clara  walse,  knows  not  half  her 
charms — dance  delightful  but  dance  dangerous  from  a  woman 
fond  of  walsing,  an  adroit  partner  will  gain  all  he  wishes — 
but  while  she  display'd  in  the  mazes  of  the  dance  all  the 
voluptuous  graces  of  which  her  person  is  susceptible,  her  eye 
sought  &  fix'd  that  of  the  general,  he  alone  fill'd  her  imagina- 
tion— before  the  desire  of  securing  that  conquest,  every  othei 
consideration  faded,  yet  'twas  vanity  alone  that  led  her  ta 
desire  it- -the  general  resembles  in  his  person  Dr.  Brown, 
rather  shorter — and  fat  you  know  was  always  her  aversion, 
but  in  this  country  above  all  things,  'tis  dreadful,  he  has  a 
face  agreeable  enough,  a  pretty  laughing  mouth,  but  nothing, 
nothing  extraordinary,  the  bitise  he  had  made  with  her  hus- 
band, render'd  it  difficult  to  approach  her  &  had  a  fatal  influ- 
ence on  the  sequel  of  their  acquaintance,  at  the  dawii  of  day 
the  ball  broke  up  &  the  company  return'd  to  their  homes, — 
the  general  had  in  his  suite  an  officer  who  was  formerly  inti- 
mate with  the  husband — the  friendship  was  renew'd  and  the 
officer  went  to  the  house  to  reconnoitre, — it  is  that  Duquesne 
that  was  in  America  during  the  last  war,  &  as  he  says  an 
ardent  admirer  of  Miss  Sally  Shippen  (now  Mrs.  Lee) — this 
Du^uesne  informed  Clara  of  what  she  knew  as  well  as  himself, 
that  the  general  was  smitten,  but  he  told  her  also  something 
which  she  did  not  know,  among  which  was  that  a  grand  ball 
•was  preparing  at  which  he  was  expected  to  figure,  she  was 
invited,  she  went,  and  there  large  as  is  her  portion  of  vanity, 
it  was  amply  gratified  by  seeing  the  general  at  her  feet, 
and  all .  the  women  bursting  with  envy.  The  taste  of 
of  the  general  influenc'd  that  of  the  company,  &  all  the  meu 


432  APPENDIX. 

offer'd  their  hommage  at  the  same  shrine,  the  eye  of  the 
husband  saw  what  pass'd — he  saw  &  trembled,  proud  of 
possessing  an  object  that  excited  universal  admiration,  he 
trembled  lest  that  object  should  be  wrested  from  him,  he 
knew  that  the  adoring  general  was  a  military  despot,  he 
knew  also  that  the  heart  of  his  wife  had  never  been  his, 
but  it  was  now  too  late,  he  had  himself  placed  her  on  the 
scene,  &  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  withdraw  her. 

Suffer  me  again  to  repeat  that  she  was  guided  by  vanity 
alone,  &  that  not  one  feeling  of  her  heart  was  interested, 
there  was  fifty  young  men  in  the  room,  whose  persons,  whose 
manners,  could  have  interested  her  highly,  some  of  them  had 
almost  show'd  her  tenderest  favors,  but  'twas  power,  'tvraa 
place  she  aim'd  at,  and  had  she  not  been  thwarted,  she  would 
have  rul'd  St.  Domingue ;  at  present  she  has  sunk  back  to  her 
original  nothingness,  because  she  has  a  husband  who  would 
neither  shut  his  eyes  and  profit  by  her  powers,  nor  open  them 
and  join  her  to  secure  &  it  this  husband  she  owes  to  you, 
To  return — the  acquaintance  here  formed,  was  cultivated  with 
indescribable  ardor.  Breakfasts,  (which  the  french  give  de- 
lightfully), parties,  balls,  concerts,  all  succeeded  rapidly,  &  the 
penchant  of  the  chief  was  generally  known ;  here  admire 
the  inconsistency  of  the  French  character,  those  who  before 
scarcely  noticed  Clara  since  her  marriage,  now  sought  her 
with  the  utmost  impressment,  &  those  who  pass'u  without 
saluting  her,  now  that  she  was  almost  the  declar'd  mistress  of 
the  general,  show'd  her  the  politest  attention ;  the  train  of 
amusements  was  interrupted  by  an  insurrection  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  colony — the  general  went  to  port-au-prince 
where  he  staid  sometime,  but  at  his  return  it  was  again  com- 
menc'd  ;  a  ball  was  announced  for  the  third  day  after  his  arri- 
val, where  some  interesting  affairs  were  to  be  discuss'd ;  when 
lo !  on  the  morning  of  that  third  day  the  brigands  attack'd 
the  town  in  three  different  directions,  at  three  o'clock  iii  the 
morning;  they  had  taken  the  advanc'd  posts  by  surprise, 
kill'd  the  officers,  their  wives,  and  the  soldiers,  and  advanc  d 
ajton  the  town :  fcad  they  been  wise  enough  to  have  done  this 


APPENDIX.  483 

without  firing  (which  they  might  have  done)  we  had  been  all 
lost;  imagine  our  position—  the  cape  is  open  on  one  side  to 
the  sea,  the  three  others  are  surrounded  by  high  mountains  ; 
on  the  tops  of  these  mountains  the  negroes  were  encamp'd 
and  all  the  country  on  the  other  side  is  in  their  power  ;  their 
plan  of  attack  was  good,  but  it  was  badly  executed,  for  one 
of  the  divisions  advancing  too  precipitately  spread  the  alarm; 
they  were  repell'd  with  great  slaughter;  all  the  troops  that 
march'd,  as  well  garde  national  as  troops  of  the  line,  were 
order'  d  to  remain  on  the  frontiers;  the  general  did  not  go  out; 
he  sent  word  to  Clara,  whose  husband  had  march'd,  to  tell 
her  not  to  be  afraid,  or  if  she  was,  to  come  to  his  house,  & 
he'd  send  her  on  board  the  admiral's  vessel  ;  this  she  dar'd  not 
do,  having  receiv'd  orders  from  her  husband,  not  to  stir  from 
the  house  ;  but  towards  evening,  after  repeated  messages  from 
him,  she  determined  to  go  &  to  learn  the  fate  of  her  husband, 
who  had  been  all  day,  and  still  was,  expos'd  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  She  went,  accompanied  by  her  little  friend,  &  after  a 
visit  of  half  an  hour,  return  'd;  this  was  the  only  time  he 
saw  her  except  in  crowded  assemblages,  and  in  the  presence 
of  another  he  could  say  very  little  ;  perhaps  there  was  a  piano, 
perhaps  a  library,  but  of  this  I  am  not  certain  ;  perhaps,  also, 
Clara  can  say  with  Mrs.  Coughlau,*  if  he  is  no  better  in  the 
fields  of  Mars  than  iu  the  groves  of  Venus,  -  etc. 

the  ball  was  deferr'd  till  the  next  day,  and  the  husband  was 
to  be  kept  at  his  post  till  it  was  over  ;  but  the  next  day  news 
arriv'd  from  a  small  island  near  this  place,  call'd  la  tortue, 
that  the  negroes  had  pass'd  an  arm  of  the  sea  that  divides  it 
from  the  main  land,  &  kill'd  all  the  Pick,  amounting  to  five 
thousand,  and  burn'd  all  the  hospitals  &  plantations;  thia 
was  another  hindrance  to  the  ball,  and  the  garde  national  was 
permitted  to  descend  ;  you  know  that  tire  lives  of  any  number 
of  citizens  is  a  very  trifling  consideration  when  the  com- 
mander-iu-chief  wishes  to  remove  an  incommode  husband, 
&  on  this  occasion  they  were  wantonly  trifled  with;  frooa 


*  Nee 

19 


434  APPENDIX. 

this  moment  the  structure  of  Clara's  good  fortune  was  ahol- 
ish'd ;  her  husband  had  an  infernal  old  servant  who  told  him 
as  soon  as  he  enter'd,  that  Madame  had  gone  with  a  servant 
of  the  general's  to  his  house,  accompanied  hy  Mademoiselle, 
that  the  same  servant  had  often  brought  letters,  which  Mad- 
ame had  answered  (this,  by  the  bye,  was  true) ;  this,  join'd 
to  the  fatigue  he  had  been  expos'd  to  unnecessarily,  and  the 
jokes  that  the  officers  (who  all  suspected  the  cause),  pass'd  on 
him,  render'd  him  furious;  he  went  to  his  wife's  chamber, 
told  her  that  all  her  conduct  was  known  to  him,  &  de- 
manded the  letters  she  had  receiv'd ;  she  denied  having  re- 
oeiv'd  them,  and  in  short  denied  the  whole  affair ;  enraged  at 
being  unable  to  draw  anything  from  her,  he  lock'd  her  up, 
and  went  to  the  general's  house  ;  he  was  receiv'd  with  great 
cordiality  ;  but  without  paying  any  attention  to  the  general's 
civility,  he  told  him  he  had  not  come  on  a  visit  of  friendship, 
but  to  reproach  him  with  having  attempted  to  seduce  his  wife, 
and  with  having  seiz'd  the  occasion  of  the  last  attack,  to  ex- 
pose" to  imminent  danger  him  and  the  company  he  commanded, 
in  order  to  be  more  at  liberty  to  gratify  his  desires ;  the  gene- 
ral, astonish'd,  assur'd  him  that  he  was  mistaken;  but  tho 
husband  listen'd  not,  he  told  him  that  if  he  was  any  other 
than  the  general-in -chief  he'd  have  his  life;  it  rests  with  you 
to  forget  that  distinction  and  consider  me  as  your  equal,  wa* 
the  reply ;  this,  however,  was  impossible;  after  having  veated 
his  wrath  in  a  long  speech,  representing  how  abominable  it 
was  for  a  person  who  should  be  the  father  of  the  colony,  and 
the  protection  of  it's  inhabitants,  to  seek  to  trouble  the  repose 
and  destroy  the  peace  of  family's,  he  went  off;  the  officers  in 
the  antechamber  heard  the  altercation,  and  the  story  flew  like 
•wildfire  through  the  town  ;  the  husband  returned  to  the  house 
and  prepar'd  to  embark  his  wife  for  Philadelphia ;  passeports 
were  granted  as  a  great  favor  for  Clara  and  her  suite,  but  the 
husband  was  not  suffer'd  to  go  ;  this  leads  to  another  observa- 
tion ;  when  the  attachment  was  first  suspected,  the  husband 
had  arrang'd  his  affairs  to  go  to  Charleston ;  this  did  not  please 
Clara ;  she  inform'd  the  general,  and  an  order  was  iimuedi- 


APPENDIX.  4  S3 

ately  issued  that  no  officer  of  the  garde  national  could  ieav« 
his  post  during  four  months ;  &  thus  you  se«  she  naa  st.i.I 
some  influence  in  public  affairs ;  but  the  season  was  so  b»u  at 
the  time  the  eclat  was  made,  that  every  body  persuaded  nun 
not  to  send  her,  &  the  vessel  on  which  she  wa*  to  have  eiu- 
bark'd,  perish'd  almost  in  view  of  the  cape. 

shortly  after  another  ball  was  announced  ;  the  genrai  sent 
Duquesne  to  the  husband  of  Clara,  begging  him  to  accDmpany 
him  to  it,  saying  it  was  the  only  way  to  stop  the  storys  tn*« 
were  in  circulation ;  but  the  husband  return 'd  the  billet  or 
invitation,  requesting  that  another  might  never  be  sent ;  tii» 
ball  had  been,  and  such  was  the  effect  of  Clara's  adventure, 
that  in  those  rooms  which  on  similar  occasions  were  crowded 
to  suffocation,  there  was  that  night  but  fourteen  ladies. 

to  account  for  this,  you  must  be  told  that,  the  inhabitants 
of  this  Island,  that  is,  the  Creoles,  regard  the  french  army 
with  more  horror  than  the  revolted  Negroes.  <fe  with  great 
reason.  They  are  oppress'd  beyond  measure,  and  see  daiiy 
the  wreck  of  their  fortunes  torn  from  thorn  by  those  who 
come  to  restore  their  property.  The  citizens  are  expos'd  on 
•very  occasion  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  while  the  troops  of 
the  line  rest  quietly  in  their  forts.  The  people  of  trance  re- 
gard st.  domingo  as  their  pern,  and  each  individual  that  em- 
barks for  it  becomes  fully  determined  to  make  his  fortune  at 
all  events,  &  thus  the  war  has  been  &  will  be  continued 
for  an  indefinite  time.  They  were  irritated  by  these  and  many 
other  vexations,  of  which  they  dar'd  not  complain;  but  a 
grief  of  a  ne*.v  kind  was  that  of  troubling  a  menage,  not  that 
fidelity  was  ever  known  or  thought  of  here ;  but  it  was  a 
novelty  to  sec  a  husband  concern  himself  about  such  an  affair, 
&  it  was  at  least  as  great  a  one  to  see  a  simple  individual 
propose  a  challenge  to  a  generai-in-chief.  Every  body  expected 
to  see  the  rash  mortal  imprisoned,  embarked  for  france,  or 
perhaps  hanged  ;  but  as  the  general  suffered  it  to  pass,  every- 
one join'd  the  cry,  &  the  people  were  astonished  to  find  one 
of  their  commonest  customs  made  a  wonder  of.  One  consi- 
deration which,  perhaps,  had  ^veat  weight  with  the  general. 


43<J  APPENDIX. 

was  his  having  written  very  often  and  very  explicitly  to 

J  he  letters  had  been  destroyed  ;  but  the  husband  eaid  ho  had 

them. 

the  general  lost  much  of  his  popularity,  and  went  shortly 
utter  to  fix  his  government  at  port-an-prince,  &  thus  cuds 
the  adventure  of  Clara,  who,  though  she  was  disappointed  in 
her  ambitious  aims,  has  been  made  so  much  the  object  of  'pub- 
lic attention,  that  she  never  appears  without  fixing  every 
regard ;  for  myself,  I  live  retir'd,  applying,  with  unceasing 
attention,  to  learn  french,  &  as  a  proof  of  my  progress,  I 
seed  you  a  page  written  in  that  language. 

Miss  Sansay  is  so  near  being  married  that — to-day  is  Wed- 
nesday— and  on  Saturday  the  ceremony  will  be  performed. 
Since  our  arrival  here,  her  temperament  has  declared  itself, 
etc.,  etc.  on  that  subject,  one  day  or  other,  I  intend  exciting 
your  regret,  should  the  story  of  Clara,  with  many  incidents 
which  I  have  omitted,  and  some  observations  on  all  that  is 
passing  here,  be  written  in  u  pretty  light  style,  could  it  be 
printed  in  America  in  a  tolerable  pamphlet  in  french  and 
english,  &  a  lew  numbers  sent  here  ?  If  it  coulu  I  ~;.ould 
be  delighted,  <fc  know  one  who  would  undertake  to  write  it, 
Answer  me.  i  think  this  long  letter  deserves  an  answer. 
There's  certainly  matter  enough  in  it  to  form  a  romance :  bet 
whose  life  has  afforded  so  many  subjects  for  romance  ES  iLi-t 
of  its  writer '(  I  hear  sometimes  indistinct  accounts  of'  thw 
United  States,  but  nothing  satisfactory.  Have  you  seen  many 
Swiss  emigrants?  Have  you  raised  an  army  to  hinder  the 
french  taking  possession  of  Louisiana?  All  this  I  rai^ht 
learn  from  the  papers,  but  I  don't  get  them.  Adieu.  Remem- 
ber, write  to  me.  Apropos— the  lady  who  takes  charge  of 
this  paquet  is  driven  from  this  country  by  fear — in  the  last 
attack  she  made  a  vow  to  the  blessed  Virgin  to  throw  herself 
into  the  sea  ii  the  brigands  entered  the  town,  so  great  wua 
her  fear  that  ner  person  should  be  exposed  to  their  lascivious 
desires.  Tins  was  a  rash  vow,  considering  she  is  only  sixty- 
four  yeard  oiii — there's  nothing  so  diverting  as  the  preten- 
tious of  the  oid  women  here.  One  of  seventy  has  vowed  tx> 


APPENDIX.  437 

•vear  neither  rouge  nor  lace,  nor  trinkets  till  the  revolution  ia 
^nished  ;  g'ving  for  reason  that  ornaments  are  useless  when 
;he  people  don't  enjoy  the  blessings  of  tranquillity,  and  that, 
perhaps,  she  might  be  deranged  in  the  n?idst  of  her  toilette 
by  a  hostile  incursion.  Do  tell  me  if  I  write  frenchified  eng- 
Usb,  I  dread  that,  of  all  things ;  it  has  so  much  the  air  of 
affectation,  which  I  always  abhorr'd.  Couldn't  answer  the 
letter  addressed  to  my  Mentor — he  might  find  himself  indis- 
posed to  write,  or  for  some  other  reason.  I  should  prefer  it 
infinitely. 

Adieu,  je  vous  embrasse. 


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